I am sloughing off house work and writing here again today. It is just a way to get things off my chest I guess. Around here the outlook is grim, not for me but for a whole bunch of people. My family finds ways to land on their feet, just as many others do. The following was over heard while I was picking up my kids backpacks.
Wednesday was the first day to pick up backpacks, and about half school supplies needed for the kids, at one of our local charity organizations. I had signed up for the kids weeks ago. We got there a bit early and had to sit and wait. First ones through the door, we quietly sat while my son drew on an old day planer I had in my purse. The volunteers were getting ready for the day. Unlike last year there was no extra to pick up, no extra crayons, etc. I don't think they were paying much attention to me while the spoke about the craziness of the days before.
"Boy it is bare back there, so many empty slots."
"Yea yesterday was insane."
"I couldn't be as bad as Monday."
"Well Mary was the only volunteer up here and we had just as many people here as Monday."
"All that truckload has all but disappeared."
"I know we may have to turn the pantry down if we don't get donations as well."
A third volunteer comes up.
"I can't wait until the holidays, more donations will come in."
During the time I was sitting there as they spoke. A few mothers came in to wait for the backpacks. Others came in for the food pantry. Most for the food pantry were told that the selection was limited and basically this is what they had, if there was something they were not going to use please let them know so they can save it for the next person.
Summer is a really bad time for the local food banks. Now during this time where people aren't making it through the month they are turning to them more and more. The supply doesn't meet the demand. So if you find yourself stable and able, please don't forget them. Make it the holidays in summer for them please.
Kansas / Missouri Food Banks
http://stjoechannel.com/...
http://feedingamerica.org/...
http://www.harvesters.org/
http://www.foodpantries.org/...
Feeding America is annually providing food to 37 million Americans, including 14 million children. This is an increase of 46 percent over 2006, when we were feeding 25 million Americans, including 9 million children, each year.
That means one in eight Americans now rely on Feeding America for food and groceries.
Feeding America's nationwide network of food banks is feeding 1 million more Americans each week than we did in 2006.
Thirty-six percent of the households we serve have at least one person working.
More than one-third of client households report having to choose between food and other basic necessities, such as rent, utilities and medical care.
The number of children the Feeding America network serves has increased by 50 percent since 2006.
http://feedingamerica.org/...
On food stamps. I know that when I got them we got 290 dollars for a family of 4 the most I got was 325. So yea they may have money to buy food it still isn't alot and yea some have less in this world, etc...........
That’s certainly not a lot of money to purchase food for adults and children, but that’s what so many American families have to live on. Many of them simply don’t have any other money.
http://situationroom.blogs.cnn.com/...