I volunteer whenever I can with Habitat for Humanity. I've worked in both their offices and in their ReStore, which is a resale shop of building materials and in some, appliances and furniture.
That is nice to hear Happy, there is a reStore here too and I have put my name on a list but I have not answered them yet. I have been a volunteer with the March of Dimes for the last 25 years. I have been responsible for helping organize and run their annual walk called March for Babies (Formerly called WalkAmerica).
The major drawback for me in volunteering time is I am gone three different segments of the year for 7-8 weeks at a time. I was thrilled when the one can a week program started. I make food donations when I am home and when I get ready to leave on the road I make a monetary donation for the time I am gone. It works for me. I have shopped at re-Stores and I have made donations also. They are one of the many great helping business' in a community.
question: If people needed food, why aren't they on food stamps? They are available to everyone with low incomes.
They need money more than food.
Most sell their food stamp cards to pay bills.
Joan, a food bank is an integral part of every community, whether a church, or other non-profit administers it. Not everyone qualifies for food stamps. There is a pretty strict set of guidelines here in Arizona about how long you can receive them and how many times in a 12 month period.
Some people are too proud to get on the food stamp program also, and consider the Food Bank a short time help.
Well, just as one example, Chillin.... traditionally, if there is a snafu in your food stamps program, and you miss a month of benefits, there is no make-up payment. The government policy is "you can't eat retroactively." But what about the friends and family who fed yours during that month? Or how about the people who allow non-related people to live with them, who aren't counted officially in the benefits? This can range from the worthless boyfriend (I have no compassion for the lazy) or the recently relocated because of a job loss. And then there's the interim between needing the benefits and getting approval. I've never seen a beauracracy run efficiently and in a consistently trustworthy manner.
I work with women who are single moms. As classified employees, they have half a check at Christmas, and no check during the summer, but the interim isn't long enough to qualify them for food stamps and they aren't technically unemployed. Some of those women use food banks to make up the difference.
Obviously, I support food bank programs. I like giving real help where it can be used. And hunger in children is very real....I see it in the school on a daily basis, or kids coming back from summer break stick thin because there wasn't much food at their house. I'm MUCH more likely to donate food to a food bank than to write a check to an organization, personally.
My Mom passed away last February, and so now I am an orphan. I have decided to purchase all the turkeys for the Angel Tree boxes at my Church. I can load them up in my little SUV and get to work. Instead of crying and bemoaning the fact that I am alone and without my Mother for the holidays. I think the project will take me from now until Christmas, with all my aches and pains..etc etc etc, but I shall be busy making a nice time for others!
Hi Crowlady!
Just noticed you said you are in Arizona. Me, too. Just "up the hill" in S.L.
The homeless shelter is my local charity. Now with so many families in the shelters now it's even more important than ever to help feed some of the less fortunate people. Not just during what we refer to as "the holiday season" but year round...
Hi Astrogal, yes I currently live in Tucson. I have been through S.L. many times. My other charity in Tucson is the Primavera Foundation which helps homeless women and children. HB, I know what you mean about kids going to school hungry. Several years ago in the town that I lived in Colorado, some folks started feeding kids in one neighborhood breakfast and lunch every day all summer long.
