Happy mid-week. It is a nice morning - looking to maybe some rain or storms today. We could use a nice rain. Kitties have had breakfast and Bits has played a lot and Blackie has assumed the 'position'! Birds are singing. Windows open and fresh air coming in at the moment. Owner already working at burn house - he sure works hard. Hearing hammers means progress. Squirrels are chasing each other. School is starting today in one local berg, and many others next week. The summer is flying by. AND all is good!!
I know we probably have a lot of people who read posts here that never comment. We usually have a few hundred views a day - so many just read. I hope we can reach and help someone that really needs some help.
Today, it seems many have job insecurity and that leads to a lot of other problems. Inflation has also taken a toll on many. IF you need help - please, please ask for help. You have to take care of your family, especially those who have children or the elderly. I know many feel too proud to ask for help. But the help is there if you reach out.
Consider if you have an overabundance of garden produce, to donate it to the local food pantries. What a treat for someone in need, to get something fresh and home grown.
Today on the news I caught just the tail end of a story that 100,000 lbs. of fresh garden produce was being donated to food banks. How wonderful!
If you need help with food, check your local churches or community organizations for help. Never be too proud to ask. It is there to help.
If you are low income - just having basics can keep you going and full. Get creative with dry beans (always can get at food pantries) they are inexpensive. Rice is inexpensive. Peanut butter is a good protein. Keeping just the basics in better times (stock-up), can keep you going in the bad times. Add whatever you can, whenever you can.
Learn to cook and cook simple healthy meals at home. Get creative with your food.
Many farm markets now take food stamps (SNAP). Granted that food is a bit more expensive than grocery stores, but it is fresh and wholesome.
If you find a great deal on clearance goods - consider not only stocking for yourselves, but to donate as well.
Most people think of the basic stuff when donating (a good thing), but more than spaghetti, rice, sauce, tuna, peanut butter is needed.
Feminine products of all types
Baby items - formula, food, diapers, wipes
Cleaning items - laundry soap, dish soap, cleanser
Health & beauty - soap, hair products, TP, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc.
School supplies of all types
Many of our local pantries, give out donated magazines or wholesome books as well (check and see)
The holidays will be here in a jiff as well. Think about collecting small items for the kiddos. Color books, crayons, art supplies, (now is the time to stock up) stuffed animals, card games, etc. Some children get nothing if not for a gift gleaned at the local pantry.
Communities everywhere have people in need. I don't care where you live, there is someone who needs a hand up. If we can do a little to help - that is what we should do. We are part of this big old earth and we are all here for a reason - to help one another.
If each of us did a little thing - that would be a big thing!
If you have any ideas of ways to help someone - tips on where people can reach out - please share.
Community needs to take care of its own.
Have a wonderful day all.
I have begged a cousin who lives on a very small SSI to use local foodbanks as needed. 'They are there for you!' I don't think she has done so to date.
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday everyone!
Yes, they are there for those who need them and there should never be any shame in going. None of us know what could happen in our lives - it could be us.
DeleteMy daughter lost her job last year and even though getting unemployment she was only able to cover about half of her bills. I suggested she use a food bank to help with her food costs and she told me 'that is for poor people'. Okay....isn't that you now? Diane
DeleteIf you have some extra cash you might make little contributions to a local ministry or charity (preferably not a money-making one) that helps people on the money end of things, like paying for a fan, or help with the electric bill or heating in winter. It helps the charity lay in supplies that are short. $10 or $20 is good enough, you don't have to endow the building! ;)
ReplyDeleteMaryB
Love that! Yes, what a great idea. Every little bit helps. No one should feel they can't give 'enough'. It is all enough to help some. Thanks.
DeleteI was at the Dollar Tree yesterday and when we were checking out the clerk asked if we would like to make a donation of school supplies for children. We said yes, and she showed us a basket from which to pick that would go to a child in need. Kudos to Dollar Tree. Cookie
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely kudos to them for helping. Hopefully their organization will also help and maybe match the donations. Thanks for helping.
DeleteTimes are difficult for a lot of people and I do hope any readers who need help reach out and get what they need. The saying, it takes a village applies to more than just children.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true. We all need to work together to help one another - I do believe that is why we are on this earth.
DeleteIt should never be a shameful thing to get help. No one knows when a need could hit their family.
A couple of suggestions to add -- First, if you're on Medicaid (possibly low-income Medicare, too), check with your plan or Social Services. A friend gets a good sized "food box" delivered to her every month to supplement her groceries. I only know of this because she offered me her very sturdy boxes when I thought I was going to be moving. Second, if you are in a financial position to donate, consider doing a REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR, setting one item per day into a bag or bin for the months of October (to the pantry in early Nov. for Thanksgiving food distribution), November (to fulfill Christmas needs), and December (to give on New Year's Eve or Jan. 1, to start the New Year with a giving heart). There are many food lists available. Either check with your local pantry, or Google "Food Bank Reverse Advent Calendar" and click on the "images" link for a print-out.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI tried to include a hot-link to a Google search, but it did not work. Most of the Reverse Advent Calendars begin on Dec. 1. If you can give more, perhaps select 3 different calendars -- one for Oct., a different set of goods for Nov., and then a Dec. one. OR simply re-do your selected plan for the prior months. But, I highly recommend doing the plan for Advent, as a way to bless those in need.
DeleteI know people that get food boxes and some that get a food card to use at any store - that are on medicaid. That is a wonderful perk. Yes, people need to check into it, as there are lots of things available that many aren't aware of.
DeleteI love the idea of the reverse advent donations. People are hungry all year, but during the winter months it is even tougher.
Thanks
This is a beautiful post! Actually, all your points can be supported by Scripture. John 12:8 "You will always have the poor with you." Proverbs 19:17: “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Master, and He will reward them for what they have done.” Matthew 25:40 "And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it for one of the least of these brothers or sisters of Mine, you did it for Me.’" When I was growing up, the church we attended was mostly hellfire and damnation. Oy vey. I so wish we would have been taught the way of the Master, to care for others and treat them as Yeshua taught. In these troubled times it seems there are more and more people in need of help. Granted, there are some folks who are physically able to work and just won't. Hmmm, something about if you don't work, you don't eat.... Lots of folks need a boost, whether food, supplies or just a kind word. And as Dolly Parton says, "if you see a person without a smile, give 'em one of yours!".
ReplyDeleteEnjoy this beautiful day! I have so much to do outside and my get-up-and-go got up and went. If you find it, send it back to the west side!
Thank you. Yes, much to be said about helping and caring for others. I do believe we help others we are indeed helping God. We are all children of God.
DeleteLuckily I did see some helping hands in the church I grew up in, just other things that turned me off.
One small act - can mean the world to someone.
Hope you find that giddy-up!!!!!
Community is so important. I can remember my mom telling me that back in her day, if a need was seen, people found a way to help out, even if it meant leaving food/clothes/toys at someone's doorstep. I know in our town, we have a few of those little food pantries, kind of like the Little Free Libraries where people can leave/take a book. There are ones for food and it makes it easy to drop off non-perishable items to help someone. I like that pantries are giving out fresh produce as you mentioned. Those food items are so important, too.
ReplyDeleteI think that happened a lot back in the day. I remember often hearing about 'Santa' leaving things on doorsteps! I know when mom was growing up - her family was pretty poor. They did have wealthy relatives. An Uncle always had a delivery of toys, clothes, food and a tree made on Christmas Eve. So Santa always brought the tree for them.
DeleteI like those little drop off pantries - kind of neat. Fresh goods are so important.
I did call 211 just the other day. I helped a neighbor when I was much younger, many people in fact. Now, in this place 'neighbors' don't exist. We do collect food from a food giveaway and help a woman with five girls. I hear they are grateful.
ReplyDelete211 can offer a lot of various types of help. I am glad that you are helping that little family with their need for groceries.
DeleteDon’t you keep some of it though? I’m hesitant to donate anymore after hearing people with abundance take it. Broken system.
DeleteAnonymous, I used to think that way, but now I go ahead and donate to food drives, etc. I know there are scammers, but figure that is between them and their conscience.
DeleteNot a bad way to think. When I read a blog talking about taking from food giveaways then spending all kinds of money on fast food and other junk, it left me stung. I was out.
DeleteOur church has a food pantry and a benevolence fund. We do an in church food drive every quarter to supplement what we glean each week from stores. We have gone from serving about 70 clients a week to about 120 in just the last year. There are so many families that just need a helping hand. We are not a big church but we definitely have big hearts. Many in the community come to the church with help for expenses. We often give vouchers to gas stations. Gas prices here at just under $4.00 a gallon for regular. We have huge state taxes on gasoline. They are attempting to force folks to electric cars for electricity has gone on 17% since February of this year so that is hurting everyone also.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note - A couple of weeks ago we had someone stop by our house to try and sell us solar panels. They said no out of pocket expenses. Ha! Basically they said the cost for the solar panels would be the same as your current electric bill. But you had to finance the cost of the panels. The cost to add panels to our house would have been $100,000 paid over 25 years. That worked out to double our current electric bill. They didn’t mention that they would probably be obsolete in 10 years. And considering our age we will be dead before they are paid off. They knew immediately that they had no sale when we began looking at the young man like he had sprouted another head.
That is wonderful your church is helping so many people each week. I think even $5 or $10 grocery GC's would be a big plus for others. I like the idea of gas vouchers. I will walk before I buy an electric car in my area. Yep, get caught on the highway in a snow storm for hours - that aint going to work. Gas has gone up here in the past week, but it will go back down soon.
DeleteI like solar, but it is very, very expensive to set up for sure, LOL - I would have looked at him the same way.
I didn't know that about dialing "211" Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. Many options for help and resources on it.
DeleteNo one should be embarrassed to go to a food bank or other help center. The volunteers and workers are so happy to help! They're glad you come. As for family & friends who might look down on you they should be helping you. If not then ignore them and seek out those who want to help you!
ReplyDeleteYes mam. Very good advice. No one should ever look down on someone in need - it could easily be us. We never know what can change in life.
DeleteWhat an excellent idea the 211 number is. Thanks for mentioning it. I will ask my relatives in the USA if they are aware of it. I always urge people in need of something to just bring it up in conversation when talking to friends or neighbours. I have lost count of the number of times a throw-away comment along the lines of "Our washing machine/lawnmower/whatever has died on us" has been met with "Oh, we've got a spare one of those just sitting in the garage you can have. We'd be glad to get rid of it to make more space!"
ReplyDeleteI am glad that 211 was informative for some.
DeleteVery true!!! Sometimes just putting something out into the world - brings a positive response. I have had people say that to me before and I had what they needed.
A couple weeks ago I mentioned maybe buying a new printer - I had no idea my neighbor had one she didn't need. She gave it to me! Huge savings for me and she got rid of something from the house.
Going through hurricane Baryel has really put a strain here (Houston) since we had another storm Dericho before that.
ReplyDelete-Rosa R
Hurricanes are just so devastating. I feel so sorry for all the people in the areas hit by bad storms. Hope you didn't have any damage. Prayers for all that were affected.
DeleteHoping that all are finding the personal needs they have and help wherever needed.
Despite what the news media would like everyone to believe, true communities still exist. We are fortunate to still have a sense of community here in the trailer park. Perhaps that is because we live in such close proximity to each other that we can't help it. We watch out for each other and know who is truly in need. Here in the Pittsburgh metro area, an organization called 412 Food Project takes food that would otherwise be thrown out by stores and distributes it in low income neighborhoods. They have a food distribution here every Tuesday, run by residents. A number of people here also utilize the local food banks. They in turn leave the food they cannot use at our mailbox kiosk at the TP entrance for others to take (at least until TP mgmt throws it out - GRRRR!) My next door neighbor gives me what they can't use from the food pantry, and I give her fresh produce from my garden. She recently gave me applesauce and raisins, and I made two loaves of applesauce-raisin bread and shared one with her. Many of us have given away a number of things (brand new bed linens, gently used clothing, etc.) to others in the TP when loved ones went to care homes or passed away. Many usable items are left at the curb with a "FREE" sign on them. Lawns get mowed and driveways shoveled like magic when it is truly needed. This sense of community is one of the things that makes me want to stay in my trailer for as long as I am physically able.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that is. I am so happy you have such a great community and neighbors. I love that the stores share and that the food is distributed to those in need. They should all do that.
DeleteWe can pretty much set things at the curb or in the alley and it is taken by someone as well. It may be a scrapper (if metal) or it may be someone needing something. I love that.
There is so much to be said about good neighbors and a caring community.
I like how you and your neighbor share - that is lovely.
I agree with you - I will be staying in my home as long as physically able. I love my neighbors!