Free Food!

An area food pantry distribution center advertised that it needed to get rid of some of it's food supplies. This after numerous campaigns to raise money due to shortages?

Any way people filled the parking lot of the shopping center where this was to take place. They were counted in the high hundreds and formed 6 lines to fill boxes, baskets and pillow cases. The media reported that later in the day people near the end of the lines got into arguments as they worried that food might be gone when their tun came.

To my knowledge, no one was turned away.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Patch;

I wonder how many of them really didn't need the food. Put the word out that something is free and they crawl out of the woodwork. A few years ago there was a case in Toronto at one of the Food Banks where a woman who lived in Riverdale (rich folk territory) was taking food. Turned out she was extremely wealthy her husband being some big shot businessman.



Camac

I suppose many did not need it. It is a symbol of the greed that permeates society today.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

It's all part of the belief many have that they have an entitlement to almost everything....which is what a certain political party, who will remain nameless (at this moment anyway), uses to advance its socialist agenda.

MACE;

No one is entitled to anything. All must be fought, bought and paid for . What I have either myself or someone else earned it for me. Oh BTW their really isn't a Socialist under every bed.



Camac.

Locally we have a Chick-fil-A which had their grand opening on Friday. They had advertised that at the time of their official opening, the first 60 customers to walk in would get a year of free food. Camping out in the parking lot started on Wednesday. I see this spectacle and grimace; much like I do when listening to some of those "singers" try out for American Idol.

I can't speak to what is happening in Ottawa, but I do know they are "coming out of the woodwork" in Washington DC.

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe this was a good thing? Maybe some of this food was perishable and would have spoiled otherwise. Maybe some of the people needed it. I've had friends who faced hard times during their lives and had to dumpster dive. But no, its SOCIALISM!! Its GREED!! Maybe its generosity, ever think of that?

Antwn;

As I posted I watched Watchmen and you just reminded me of a line some corporate big wig says "Free is just another word for socialism or communism. What utter tripe.

Camac

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe this was a good thing? Maybe some of this food was perishable and would have spoiled otherwise. Maybe some of the people needed it. I've had friends who faced hard times during their lives and had to dumpster dive. But no, its SOCIALISM!! Its GREED!! Maybe its generosity, ever think of that?

Food pantries get inspected just like everyone else involved with food distribution or sale, and their stuff has to be within expiration date or they can get closed down. I've seen this almost happen. So the stock didn't really even have to be strictly perishable at that moment. It could be they were understaffed and lost track of rotating the stock more gradually, or just had new volunteers who didn't know they had to.

You guys (yes, you) have to decide which way to jump -- first you want the scare the crap out of people who are living in fear for their incomes, as you go bunging doom-bombs all over the map, then when people jump crazy on a free deal because of this fear you hold them in scorn. Go yank your own strings for a while.

Has it occurred to anyone that maybe this was a good thing? Maybe some of this food was perishable and would have spoiled otherwise. Maybe some of the people needed it. I've had friends who faced hard times during their lives and had to dumpster dive. But no, its SOCIALISM!! Its GREED!! Maybe its generosity, ever think of that?

I question why I have been asked to donate food and money because of SEVERE shortages,which I did, and suddenly there was an execss which supplied many hundreds of people. Somewhere between 5 and 8 hundred depending on which estimate one chose to believe.

I did not say I thought it was good or bad only that I suspected greed was involved on the part of a number of people. I based that on the automobiles visible in the parking lot picture which were much better than mine. Since there were no requirements it did not matter. I would not have gone to get anything as I knew there were people who really needed the food.

Also, there is no such thing as a free lunch or anything else for that matter. Someone pays for it and it could be the recipient in a round about way.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Is it a half full or half empty glass Patch?

Since your details are sketchy and interpretive, I can only speculate the same way you're doing. If there was suddenly an excess, could it be that others donated as you did thereby creating it? Did you track exactly where the food you gave went? Since you're assuming everything here, why don't you just assume it went to a very needy family and go home with a smile on your face?

OK -- You don't approve of it on principle -- "TANSTAAFL"; possibly you don't really understand how it works across a lot of variations and are misinterpreting the signs; and you seem to be disgusted at and resentful of those who have more or own better than you taking advantage. Sounds like it upsets you enough that staying away from the whole scene might be your best bet, though I would certainly wish to see you taken care of this way than not at all, just as I would any other person, and I hope it never comes to that.

They were asking for money still, just a week ago. If they can not determine where they are with regard to expiration dates.etc., I will find a way do donate directly to those in need and not use the govt sponsored centers as a place to help. It is my right to make decisions based on what I see and read when MY money is being donated. Food pantries in my area would have been happy to have this food over the last 6 weeks. I did not track where it came from or how it was disbursed. My time is far too valuable for those activities. I donated based on trust. You can bet that will not happen again.

It may have gone to some needy families but certainly not "all" were. I did not say it was or was not socialism. My guess it was like "cash for clunkers", just another totally screwed up govt program.

Sometimes it amazes me re: how confused some people seem to be.

Media details were sketchy but enough to convince me. If you are not convinced, research it.

Slàinte,    

Patch    

Clearly your best bet, since your goodness and generosity are not honored by mistrust.

As to researching it -- how can I? I don't even know where you are. If you give reluctantly to that assistance outlet and you neither trust it nor have the time to make sure of what you are witnessing, then go with your alternative. It will do a lot of good without poisoning your attitude so.