RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their cart?
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/27/2009 4:57:56 PM
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stellaluna
Posts: 4168
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Having lived in several of low-income neighborhoods, I will admit I do notice when the people in front of me in line are on assistance. It's probably because I recognize the electronic cards.
WIC is one thing; it's hard to scam and I think most women who are on it legitimately need it and I want moms and kids to have healthy food at home. Other benefits though...
I once waited and waited and waited while a clerk was struggling to get a benefits card to scan. There was a problem with the machine and the woman who owned the card was getting more and more antsy. Why? Because the state allowed people on benefits to take out a certain amount of cash each month, and she had a case of beer and a carton of cigarettes on the counter that she was waiting to pay for. If the card didn't go through, she didn't have any money. Not only was she angry and loud about it, she had three filthy crying children at her feet, wanting to go home. Finally the card worked, she got her cash, paid for her stuff and left. I stepped up and put two dollars in change on the counter for gas. It was all I had to get to work. I looked into applying for food stamps and was told I made too much money. I made $3.15 an hour.
These people were neighbors of mine and I saw this little scene played out over and over. I lived in that neighborhood for five years and I know the store clerks made complaints numerous times about that particular woman and others. I saw CPS vehicles in front of their homes repeatedly. It didn't seem to make a difference.
I don't look down on anyone who works hard and needs help or gets into a difficult situation and needs help. I also try not to jump to conclusions about those on government aid, but it's hard because I've seen it too many times with my own eyes people abusing the system.
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/27/2009 6:01:52 PM
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Grace71
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One of the problems with buying wholesome food versus junky food is that junky food is cheaper, so you can buy more of it, and it will last longer. Pretty silly it works that way, but it does. For example, I can spend 5.00 on a 10 oz box of whole grain cereal. Or I can buy the sugar cereal that is 14 oz and two for 5.00. When you are on assistance, you need to stretch as far as possible. Its also cheaper here to buy a big box of cookies than a 3 lb bag of apples.
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/27/2009 10:04:25 PM
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Auben
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From: Where pines tower and cranberries float
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Unless God has given me a lot of personal time and insight in someone's life, I don't feel its my place to judge. I don't know who could know someone's heart or life from this kind of encounter. We hardly know the people we see every day.
My family was on food stamps several times when I was a teen. Its given me some insight into the variety of people in that situation.
Its embarrassing. Its frustrating. And losing your job and needing to depend on them doesn't mean you suddenly know how to cook, budget, or make good decisions with your life.
People respond to it differently. Some get dressed up to go shopping (I won't let them look down on me). Many don't change a thing. There's a certain fear of change when you're living at the bottom. There's a lot of trial and error to any change and that's scary. And yeah, having food stamps doesn't mean your kids act better or you do either.
People are people. That means they come from all backgrounds and exhibit a whole range of good and bad things, even before they need assistance. Food stamps doesn't create that...human sin nature creates that.
If I start judging every person I meet for 5 minutes it contributes to the fear and embarrassment of the good people who end up in that situation. I can give up any private satisfaction in feeling superior in order to make that burden a little less for those people.
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Tamara
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/27/2009 11:20:46 PM
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relady
Posts: 688
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From: Greater St. Louis Metro
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quote:
The military now offers Family Subsistence Supplemental Allowance to military families with children who would otherwise meet the requirements for Food Stamp eligibility, so that the military families no longer have to go on Food Stamps.
That is good to know!!
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 1:06:46 AM
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StephK
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From: Southwest Louisiana
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Grace71
One of the problems with buying wholesome food versus junky food is that junky food is cheaper, so you can buy more of it, and it will last longer. Pretty silly it works that way, but it does. For example, I can spend 5.00 on a 10 oz box of whole grain cereal. Or I can buy the sugar cereal that is 14 oz and two for 5.00. When you are on assistance, you need to stretch as far as possible. Its also cheaper here to buy a big box of cookies than a 3 lb bag of apples.
That's not really true when you look at the cost of say oatmeal and other hot cereals. The oatmeal then can be used to make a big batch of cookies, granola, pancakes and muffins. One thing I got out of reading the Tightwad Gazette was that the primary goal of food purchases was to buy the most nutrition for your money. Of course it requires more scratch cooking but it helped me think differently about shopping.
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Stephanie
Envy is always referred to by its political alias, "social justice."
~ Thomas Sowell
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 10:17:30 AM
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Ellie-Mae
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From: The EMPIRE state!
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The reason that I brought up all the processed food is that I had found that the woman who were filling their baskets with frozen meals simply didn't know how to cook and didn't really understand nutrition. I am not talking about a few items or even half of the items, i am talking about a whole cart full of frozen dinners and such. I knew this was true because as a cashier they would talk to me while I was cashing them out.
This further made an impression on me when my parents were doing foster care. They would often have to teach teens how to cook and put together meals.
So now when I see someone like that, I wonder if they are like the gals that I used to check out. There is nothing wrong with being reminded of something. I don't assume anything about them, I just wonder a little.
I am not sure, but I think that there is more awareness and programs for teaching nutrition than there used to be back when I was a cashier. A friend of mine told me about a nutritionist came to her home and worked with her (I was almost jealous). I don't think that she really needed it, but it was really nice, especially since there are so many that DO need help in that way.
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"You can" makes no difference. "You will" changes the world.
~BillyBob Jones in Grey soon to be authored by Caleb (12) for NaNoWriMo
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 10:26:29 AM
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keithyhuntington
Posts: 814
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From: Tulsa, Okla.
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Ellie-Mae
The reason that I brought up all the processed food is that I had found that the woman who were filling their baskets with frozen meals simply didn't know how to cook and didn't really understand nutrition. I am not talking about a few items or even half of the items, i am talking about a whole cart full of frozen dinners and such.
i do that too. i get a little embarrassed  cause i'll go to walmart and get about 40-50 frozen $1 meal things. and i know people think i'm a lowly bachelor, but my wife just doesnt know how to, or care to know how to, cook. (and if i cooked for her, she wouldnt touch my food, so its pointless. cause i love food with LOTS of spice and pizazz.... and she likes bland plain food. my mouth lievs in Oz, and her mouth lives in Kansas.) but i know how to cook, i know how to make a meal... i'd just rather eat on 3 dollars a day, and have more money to buy cds and dvds  than buy chicken and veggies and expensive junk. or i'll go buy a couple loaves of 1.27 bread, and a couple 1 lb. packs of turkey for 3 bucks, and thats my food for a week. SCORE!!! cheap trumps nutrition in my book.
< Message edited by keithyhuntington -- 10/28/2009 10:35:35 AM >
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Jesus Christ please help me 'cause i'm lonely. Whats the use in living, if you can't make a good living?
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 10:32:59 AM
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laura...
Posts: 3281
Joined: 3/1/2005
From: NE Ohio
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quote:
SCORE!!! cheap trumps nutrition in my book.
It's a lot cheaper to eat nutritionally good food now than it is to pay the medical bills that "cheap" will buy you down the road.
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This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’ Jer 6:16
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 10:49:08 AM
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doinkdom
Posts: 5585
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: The higher lowcountry
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quote:
ORIGINAL: laura...
quote:
SCORE!!! cheap trumps nutrition in my book.
It's a lot cheaper to eat nutritionally good food now than it is to pay the medical bills that "cheap" will buy you down the road.
true that 
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Rest assured, dear friends, that where your pleasure is, there your heart is.
- Charles Spurgeon
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 11:05:09 AM
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Liveloved
Posts: 1812
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Auben
Unless God has given me a lot of personal time and insight in someone's life, I don't feel its my place to judge. I don't know who could know someone's heart or life from this kind of encounter. We hardly know the people we see every day.
And losing your job and needing to depend on them doesn't mean you suddenly know how to cook, budget, or make good decisions with your life.
Auben has spoken some wonderful words/thoughts here. Two points that I'd like to stress from what she said are:
1) We don't spend enough time getting to know, hearing the hearts, of people we interact with on a daily basis.
and 2) Cooking, budgeting, and making wise decisions need to be taught.
Another person posted regarding poor food choices and health care costs. Unfortunately when someone else is paying the bill, we can be blinded to the cost.
What's the solution? Can we teach people to live wisely? I don't know. If our churches offered classes on cooking, budgeting, or decision making, would people come? Or do they just want a food pantry? or food stamps? or a medical card?
Yes, as Auben said, some are in the position of need for a time. That's the purpose of these programs. But what we have developed and encouraged in this country is for people to get on and stay on these programs. There is no longer shame for doing such.
And those in the church often live just as the world. It is sad.
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Liveloved
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Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
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RE: FOOD STAMPS - Do you second guess what's in their c... - 10/28/2009 11:12:45 AM
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Consecrated2God
Posts: 4920
Joined: 4/4/2005
From: Formerly Jesus Land
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I was the same way, Ruth. When I was a kid, I thought TV dinners were something special because we never got them (you know, because we were deprived.  ) I guess I thought my kids would be like me, but they all think homemade is better.
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"A faith that can be destroyed by suffering is not faith."--Richard Wurmbrand
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