Following yesterday's article titled "The Economic Screw Tightens", I received this via e-mail from a reader.
there is no mountain of savings
most are living hand to mouth
we go to the food bank 2 to four times per month
hoping daughter's job holds up after holiday season
husband died suddenly 4 yrs ago
he was working full time
instantly zero income, no savings as his cancer treatment took everything
many are in same boat, so many widows, so many young families where jobs are lost
what we don't use from food bank we give to others and put extras in 'blessing boxes' outside churches
I know my correspondent is far from alone in her plight. I'd like to thank her for giving permission for me to republish her words here.
Spare a thought, and a prayer, for people in that situation; and, if it's possible, please contribute to local food banks and other sources of assistance for them. They really need it.
Peter
11 comments:
Indeed, I know of several families who are struggling this way. My dad set up a 'sharing table' at our local congregation, where anyone can leave produce or other food, and anyone can take what they want from it. We get free day-old bread for our chickens each week from a local bakery, and the whole, un-smashed loaves always make their way to church - there are never any left after the service. We've been blessed with a superabundance of food (usually through unexpected sources), so we try to share the love where we can.
Since it's winter, we're not sharing produce, but if anyone is hungry when they come to our house, they certainly don't have to leave that way!
I have been trying to set up a food bank where I live, independent of local churches. They all opposed it unless THEY controlled it. I explained that it was about giving away without credit to any organization.
I guess they have a financial stake in preaching.
I'm still working on it with corporate sponsors but it won't be up before Christmas. It's about giving food to the needy. But it seems that there is a lot of politics in that.
Sadly true...
What Larry is attempting is actually illegal in the Bay Area, and that might be the whole state of CA. Food giveaways have to be done under the control of the .gov, or the givers/distributors can/will be arrested. This all came to light a few years ago (prior to covid, IIRC), and the public and media were rather surprised to see it happen. I think it was a church group that ran afoul of the law, but the memories are fuzzy at this point.
The hardest part of charity is finding the people who are worthy of it, because well-advertised charity brings out some of the worst people intermingled in with the worthy ones.
family,
It was always the genesis of making good. Sadly it died out about 40 years ago when the population bomb convinced people of limited intellect.
Ultima ratio, family.
Srsly, you should make some.
The way I deal with possible scammers is try to vet them as much as possible and then let it go. If you are giving from a pure heart it doesn't matter if the wrong person gets some of it. The blessing is still there regardless.
Help your neighbor. It builds a relationship, hopefully of mutual assistance.
Here in snowy NE helping neighbors dig out of Nor'easters, the sharing of transportation with better snow vehicles and sometimes generators make for a close neighborhood. A couple hours of power keep the freezer safe and keep the pipes from freezing.
Often pride keeps problems quiet. A mystery box of groceries is often the reply when need is known.
I donate and work at the local food bank. Some are abusing the system but so far, we can get something that's needed to those that really need it.
LL, my mother's church networks with other churches. There are scammers that go from church to church taking all they can get. Working in a network you ID such people and cut them out ensuring that the more deserving get the help they need.
In our 96 unit senior apartment building food from many sources is placed in the kitchen area for anyone in need to take. I buy two to three extra items when I shop and contribute that way.
I went walking and came across one of the local churches here in Shaker Heights. it was after midnight but I walked up to the Church portico because it was different and there was a police car in the lot.
It had the Church gift box of food to anyone but there were two additional large boxes, all food of canned goods donated by the parishioners and the neighborhood. I was impressed. I grew up on Army posts or in the 'new' tract housing explosion out of the 70's where there was no church. Here in Metropark Centralis there's a church on every corner and they reliably hold the line and offer Thanksgiving dinners to all comers with turkey and all the trimmings. It always reminds me of my time in Kuwait where the Army family at the Embassy ALWAYS had a thanksgiving and invited strays like me.
It was one of those things the Army got in the blood for good reason. When my dad was a battalion commander we ate at the mess hall and it was the 22 course soup to nuts Thanksgiving, the same thing they flew out of us on the island in Kuwait.
i enjoy your blog.
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