Comments on: Record-setting Business at Food Banks

By: paz3

paz3 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 23:01:33 +0000

Hello OtherWA. I’ve worked for the Oregon Food Bank, in Portland just across the river from you for the last 13 years. WE serve the state of Oregon and SW Washington (Clark County). Here’s a list from our web site, under the heading Most Wanted Foods:
http://www.oregonfoodbank.org/
Oregon Food Bank needs these nutritious foods:
*canned meats (i.e., tuna, chicken, salmon)
*canned and boxed meals (i.e., soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese)
*canned or dried beans and peas (i.e., black, pinto, lentils)
*pasta, rice, cereal
*canned fruits
*100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed)
*cooking oil

Another thing to be mindful of is soap, diapers and cleaning products, as these cannot be purchased with food stamps.

Yes, the burden on food pantries (they serve clients directly) and food banks (regional coordinating agencies that serve food pantries and do a lot of advocacy work aimed at getting funding to meet the need and pass legislation to relieve hunger) is increasing, so we certainly know that the economy is really struggling.

I’d suggest the Stop Hunger Warehouse in Vancouver (WA) as a place you can help.

By: caia

caia — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:47:23 +0000

My understanding is that food banks can make a dollar go a lot further than you can, by virtue of buying wholesale and in bulk. So if you’re going to be giving or spending money, it’s probably better to give it to them.

On the other hand, if cash is tight but you’ve got excess (non-expired) cans on your shelves, they’d certainly appreciate them.

By: caia

caia — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:44:02 +0000

How much do we spend on foreign aid? People think, on average, it’s 24%. In reality, less than 1% of our budget, or 25 cents per American per year, goes to foreign aid.

Whereas more than half our budget goes to the military in some way.

By: Twain

Twain — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:01:38 +0000

Not only wars, large and small, but foreign aid. I really like being able to help other countries but we could take a small portion of that and help Americans. No, I’m not an isolationist, but I am very concerned about right here, right now. Was reading the other day that there are now female vets homeless and living on the streets. We are going to have so many when the troops start coming home for real.

By: valletta

valletta — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:53:44 +0000

My dear retired FIL is on the board of the local soup kitchen and volunteers there twice a week.
I asked him about the current demand and he said it is up more than 100%, lots of families and new people he’s never seen before.
I’m unemployed right now (hope to change that by an offer next week?) but volunteering there is a humbling experience and helps me put my currently crappy situation into perspective.
But a soup kitchen as wonderful as it is, isn’t enough.
Our “government” needs to get its act together, stop bailing out banks and funding great wars and small wars and start taking care of its human resources.
No better place to start than universal healthcare, which would give an enormous boost to the economy at large.

By: Larue

Larue — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:52:52 +0000

Same sitch in Sacto, less foods, more needy and hungry families.

On another note, but a progressive one, here’s some positive oriented thoughts about where we stand as progressives.

Hope Rages On

By: TheOtherWA

TheOtherWA — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:46:48 +0000

I’m in southwest WA, near the OR border.

By: dcblogger

dcblogger — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:45:04 +0000

DC Food banks and kitchens

By: Funnydiva2002

Funnydiva2002 — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:39:47 +0000

Thanks, OtherWA.
I’m in North King Co. where are you?
Note to self: look for donation barrel on the way in to shop.
FWDiva

By: egregious

egregious — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:36:57 +0000

Heartbreaking. Thank you peterr.