• nocturne
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    18 hours ago

    I volunteer at a food bank, everything we get is donated. Sometimes we have great stuff to give out, sometimes we have garbage.

    At least you were able to get some thing.

    • @[email protected]
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      718 hours ago

      I had literally typed up basically this exact comment, then deleted it because I figured they were just venting and it wouldn’t be helpful, and then I came back because I wanted to make sure people understood that food banks aren’t generally run by the government. They’re nonprofits, but there is no minimum amount they are allocated. Since they mostly run off donations, and the economy is so terrible for everyone, it makes sense that they are hurting too. I’m sorry to hear they didn’t have more, but often the things they do have are the little others can spare or staples that make sense to purchase with the little money they get. I’m glad you commented though because I’m not sure I would have made a top level comment about this, but imho it’s worth mentioning. The people at the food banks really are trying their best to help.

      • @[email protected]OP
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        718 hours ago

        i’m very pro food bank and pro mutual aid. we should always be having these conversations about allocation of resources. bless.

      • nocturne
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        518 hours ago

        Last year we had twice as much, the year before we had even more. Today’s boxes were pretty sparse.

        • @[email protected]
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          314 hours ago

          That suck to hear. I know that it can be pretty demoralizing in the first place, but to then have that added on. Devastating. What you do is really important, so thank you. Your community really benefits from it regardless of how full the boxes are. Hope things get better for everyone.

    • @[email protected]OP
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      618 hours ago

      not complaining, friend. I do love to be critical, and I do wish they had asked if I wanted any toys. I now have several boxes of cornbread mix, among other weird shit from them – that does qualify as food.

      when i was staying in a homeless shelter and i was halfway out of the shower one day i literally caught one of the same food bank guys fishing his insanely skeleton-like fingers through my little homeless man bag of toiletries. Also that man wears adult diapers and dumps them in the public fucking trash. Creepy fucking ghoul.

      • nocturne
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        518 hours ago

        When we have things such as toys, or baby food we put it to the side and ask people if they need it because we know not everyone has kids.

        • @[email protected]OP
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          517 hours ago

          yeah all ya’ll are badass, especially because it’s super important to help children in all their weird developments

      • @Today
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        317 hours ago

        Our local food bank changed how they give out items. Now you get a shopping cart, walk the aisles, choose a certain number of proteins, vegetables, healthcare items, etc., take it to the checkout and bag it. It might not always be great stuff but at least you get a choice…

        • @[email protected]OP
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          317 hours ago

          it’s such a difference when you are a rando who can survive on a bigass bag of beans versus a single parent with multiple kids – that was my original point. fucking silly they gave me this huge box of crap and the only thing food-like is potatoes.