The Food Pantry

First of all, I can not get food stamps. I receive rent from my house (that I can't live in) and that means that my unearned income is more than the maxium. While our wages were well under limits. found this out when hubs got cellulitis and almost lost his leg.

So take a moment and imagine that. I work a part time job, he is let go from his job, no medical insurance, very little money and my mom saying we can always move back with her. He ends up in the hospital and almost loses his leg. He can't get unemployment and the job he was working at couldn't be saved that long for him. Do you have heart palpitations yet?



Ok back to reality. The young woman who said "Sorry we can't give you benefits at this time." also gave me a handful of brochures and in them was information about Angelfood ministries and the various food pantries available in my area. At the time I just used the information for Angelfood, being the proud idiot that I am, and with the garden producing and family tossing in meat. We got through the next 6 months.



You see I was embarrassed to admit that I needed the food pantry, plus only poor people do that right? In December of 2007 it got really bad, we had nothing and couldn't get help. Plus after 4 months of unemployed hubby, we were just trying to get ahead. We had a broken down Van and instead of fixing it we bought a falling apart car because it was cheaper. One night right before Christmas we went grocery shopping with our $25. We had nothing and it was getting worse. We came home to find a basket of gifts and a Christmas card with a $100 gift card in it. At this point we knew we were going to fail if we didn't get more help. The next week we went to the food pantry.

In the last 2 1/2 years we have gone on and off. We go if we need the help and don't if we don't. Each time we go we get 3 vegetables, 3 fruit, 4 meat, 2 bread, 2 cereal, crackers, 2 soup. It won't make me rich and we always use it.



They also give things as a special. Candy at Easter and Christmas. Ham or Turkey for Christmas or Thanksgiving. Produce in the summer. In the fall we can get gloves and hats for winter.



What I found out is that every one at the food pantry has the same story I do. The majority work, some are disabled and don't get benefits. It makes it easier.

Last month we received pasta, spagetti sauce, 2 cans of tuna, noodles, chicken noodle soup, corn, green bean, chick peas, peanut butter, hamburger helper, 2 boxs of cereal, 2 loaves of bread, tomato soup, cheese crackers, juice, eggs, 3 lbs hamburger, cookies, and dry and shelf stable milk. All in all it probably would have cost around $50.