Food Banks

For the moment let's understand that I am POOR...not by choice, but by circumstances. I certainly hope that by this time next year I will look back on this experience as one more area of growth in my life. What I do know is that by BEING POOR and not knowing where food or housing is coming from, that you are humbled. It doesn't matter if you are 3rd or 4th generation welfare person who knows how to 'work' the system, or a well educated/careered person like myself who just needs serious assistance for what hopefully is not much longer than a 'moment' in my life.

I applied for food stamps and because I have ZERO income qualified for them. It's the first time in my life I've gotten anything from the government. The nice woman who assisted me also gave me a list of resources to tap into...so I attempted to get assistance for my phone service but SPRINT does not BELONG to the plan to assist Oregonians!!! A huge conglomerate like SPRINT doesn't CARE ABOUT THE POOR...stuff that into my nifty little bag of 'what I'm finding out as a poor person'. Called ACCESS to get assistance with my power bill, which I get billed on the 15th of each month...but was told by the woman (who I couldn't understand well since her English flat SUCKED) that because they look at my income in MARCH for my APRIL bill, I don't qualify!! WOW...when I called them, I'd been unemployed for 3 weeks and had just received the bill...

So then we come to the title of this post "FOOD BANKS"...this is Red Cross, Salvation Army and any private/government group who gets food items donated and then you go through a check in and get a 'card' that you show each time and you get your FREE food. Doesn't this sound absolutely great!?!?!

I've been to three food banks. Much of the stuff is of course canned goods as you think they are 'non-perishable'...but one must CHECK the expiration dates on these non-perishables. I've thrown numerous items out because they have expired. Please don't tell me that this stuff still stays good for a 6 month period...preservatives break down and form all kinds of bad things that can make you ill and most probably could cause death in some instances.

The milk I received was dated 4/30, it is May 4th. Eggs were dated 5/1, it is May 4th. Cookies were dated October 1, 2009!!!!! Pre-packaged salad was dated April 28th.

Now I'm not knocking FREE food, but doesn't this begin to look like it comes with a price? If these food banks are giving out this much EXPIRED food, how many of these people are getting ill....especially the children?

Yes, the food banks are good, but SHAME on the companies donating it for allowing ANY that is EXPIRED to be given away....I'm sorry, we need help, but I don't want to get sick or potentially die.