Hey folks, For the ones of you who actually know me, you know how I am over people being hungry. This time of the yr, there is tons of places you can donate food to the food banks and being coupon queens that we are, you know what you can get for free or cheap. PLEASE donate to the local food banks. The one we have at church is needing donations so I know others are too. There is sooo many people out of work and are needing help. So please , donate what you can to the food banks. And while I am on my soap box, why not make it a habit. People need food all the time, not just at holidays. sooo. please donate what you can to those who are having it hard.
Ok. am crawling off my soap box for awhile. Hope you guys have a wonderful Thanksgiving .

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I will second Littlejo's appeal. After years of organizing and running a food/toy drive for our church at Christmas, last year the pastor and I felt that we should do something more than just at Christmas. In January, we started a food pantry in our church, only church on town that has one (small town, 4 churches). Turned out there was such a need, there were several times over the summer we were totally out of food. Our pastor brought it up at one of the ministers meetings and it has now turned into, we have a place donated for a town food bank and clothes closet to be opening in December, to be open one day a week to be run by each church once a month. The big local food bank in the town next to us can only give out food every 60 days, so alot of families rely on church food pantry's and other local food pantry's to help them out during the times that they cannot get food from the regular food bank.

Yes, people are getting more in food stamps now with the new regulations, however you have to remember with the economy the way it is, more families are moving in together (because of job loss/eviction) and trying to make it. So until the second family is also getting food stamps (could take up to 60 days) alot of these people are trying to live off one families food stamps. The second family cannot get help elsewhere (like from Salvation Army or the regular food bank) because they do not have an address or bill with their name on it which is one of the requirements to get help and basically they are homeless, they will be referred to one of the places that serves meals for food. Where we live it is 25 miles away to something like that and a family if they have a car can't afford the gas to go get a hot meal each day.

Right now is a great time to give because with the holidays, both Thanksgiving and Christmas fall at the end of the month and kids are out of school. Both those situations together always put a strain on people with low incomes, as when kids are in school they can rely on school lunches, but when they are home parents have to find a way to feed them and when you are at the end of the month your might be out of food stamps anyway. Then to have to worry about fixing a "special" meal. Think about how you would feel as a parent.

I know I have shared this story in the past, but I will share it again. One year when I was delivering food baskets, we pulled up to this trailer in a not so great neighborhood, I went up and knocked on the door (we always go up and make sure someone is home before we start carrying stuff in). It was an elderly gentleman raising his grandkids, they were all there, I introduced myself, we carried in all the toys and food (a weeks worth of food is what we try to do if we get enough donations + Chrismas meal) and he started crying. I asked him what was wrong, he said something about he had been praying and God sent me and opened his cabinets and refrigerator to show me and there was NOTHING there but some condiment type things. He said I didn't know how I was going to feed these kids today.

So your donations really do make a difference in someone's life!

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I agree that's it's super easy to get food for free or just pennies if you coupon.

I don't make a lot, but I manage to give quite a bit to charity by buying food and hba items that are extremely cheap or free and donating them. The amount of cash I could donate wouldn't really do much good, but multiple bags of free grocery staples can really help out. I'm no tax expert, but I think if you itemize on your taxes you can take a deduction for food/hba items that you purchase to donate too.

If there isn't a specific food pantry in your area look for other charities such as abused women's shelters or homeless shelters. Shelters that serve meals can always use donations of food to serve to the people there, all year round.

Many grocery stores have a donation box set up in the front so you can just buy a couple non perishable items and drop them in on your way out, it doesn't get any easier than that.

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What you point out is true especially at this time of year. I am one who advocates personal responsibility and ingenuity however there are children involved who have no choice in how their household dollars are spent. Those children deserve nutritious food all year long but this time of year when many of us who are blessed are thankful for our bounty and smiling and singing holiday songs those kids wonder what they've done to deserve this. I don't want any children feeling they are not worthy or wondering if there is a God why am I so hungry.

It's even as simple as making an extra casserole or something once a week and bringing it over to the home of that single working Mom or the grandparents who are raising their grandchildren or the man who lost his job because he broke his leg.

I am not saying starve your family to feed the drug addict's family. It's just that if each one of us does what we can, even if that means donating one can of soup or one package of ramen noodles we can make a difference and show those going through hard times that people really do care about them.

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Gave lots here through my son's school. His Spanish teacher gave 5 extra credit points for donations. He was able to help his classmates get their points when they forgot!

But thanks for the reminder to give more and more often.....I think I'll make a trip to the food bank after the pre-holiday rush dies down. I have lots of pantiliners from Walgreens, ya think they will take those? Not food per se, but should be useful nonetheless!

cj/

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Not sure about where you live but around here, its mainly people who have worked all their lives in factories that have now moved overseas that needs the help. People who are in their 50's and up who cant find a job. Not just the younger folks.

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«·´¨*·.¸¸. Jo ¸¸.·*¨`·»
«·´`·.(¸.·´(¸.·* *·.¸)`·.¸).·´`·»


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Where I live (Eugene, OR area) it's mostly families with children that are suffering right now. I sometimes forget about the other populations because we are inundated with pictures and stories of families and children with hungry eyes.

You are absolutely right though there are many people in need of all ages and social groups.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

There is probably at least one 'loss leader' advertised at your grocery store that you can pick up cheap (and cheaper with a coupon) once a week and drop into your store's donation box. If there's no box, start one at your house and when it's full take it to your local food bank.

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