I do want to add an addendum to my last blog... There are people giving to their fellow Americans here on our soil. The problem is that they were going about it in such a discrete way that we were left unaware. I have been happy to see in the most random of places, people giving out food pantry items...
Craig's List!
Can you believe it? Well I was quite surprised too at first. But then, another day passed and there it was, another post, offering free food from a person's own pantry. Now granted most of these foods are not lobster tails or free range organic beef. But people are offering their pantry supplies rather than throwing them out! YEAH GOOD PEOPLE!
Now I have to wonder what makes people decide that Craig's List is a better forum to give out their goods rather than the more "traditional" methods provided. And when I say traditional I mean Red Cross or Local Food Pantries. Just for the sake of discussion here, we can always get further into the current donation options as well... Is it the need to put a face to where their things are going? When you give on CL (Craig's List) some people decide to set up a time and place to meet and yet others do a front/back porch set-up (they set up a time and when they will leave the stuff on the front or back porch for you to pick up). Well that face to face meeting can't be it then. Since there is the option to not meet face to face. CL free section does give the benefit and ability to post many things besides food and maybe that is just the easiness of it all? We are all so tech savvy that the simplest thing for us to do is to type something with our fingers and let someone else do all of the work. And you should see some of the ridiculous things posted on there!
"You can have the bed frame but only after you do 6 trips up and down four flights stairs loading the rest of my super larger furniture into the truck. And then, NO, I will not help you with the bed frame that you originally came for. But it is free".
Free labor is right! I have to also wonder if it is the difficulty of it all? I mean I am searching for where to find a food bank, and I am determined to find one. Good thing too, cause it took me a long while of scrolling and searching to find it. I am sure if someone was just looking to make a donation, they would have given up much sooner... And most food banks have such weird hours that are during the "typical" work day that most people would not be able to to make it there to drop off the stuff anyway.
So back to good old CL... =) So I guess it all makes sense. Most of our generations lately do most of our transactions on CL anyway. Need a car, job or apartment? Where would you look? Furnished most of my apartment that way honestly. No shame in that!
In the need for a food donation or want to give to your neighbor in need? No need to text, just type! Give away your old blankets and peas please!
But you know I can't just let a good thing be as is. I always expect better! When you type out to your friends and neighbors you know what would make someone just really really happy? Give them something healthy and fresh. All food banks give out canned goods. If you want to really help keep a person healthy and happy, buy them green veggies NOT in a can! Why not post I have some carrots for anyone who wants them? Bought extra spinach at Costcos? Or even take it a step further: Sponsor someone's CSA share if you can afford it. If not a whole share, give what you can! Listen every bit helps! Or you know that shut-in down the street. Everyone has one... Surprise them with a home cooked healthy meal once in awhile. What a difference you can make for a person in the world. A smile and a healthy meal, a hearty vegetable can be all of the difference!
Meanwhile, Thank you CL for changing my outlook on my fellow people. They aren't not giving to their own, they are just doing it in new ways. Cutting out the middle people. Which in my mind is not such a bad thing at all!
ps: this was one of the posting I saw while looking in North Jersey's Free Section, They are posting this every month. Hope it helps!
The ICPC Free Food Pantry will take place again this Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the
Islamic Center of Passaic County (ICPC)
152 Derrom Avenue in Paterson, NJ.
A grocery bag will be made available to all qualifying individuals. Such bags are available for those currently on government relief (food stamps, WIC, SSD, TANF, etc). Free bags are also available for anyone who is facing financial hardship (e.g. unemployed, large families with low income, etc.). Each bag consists of rice, pasta, cans of beans and vegetables, bread and tuna. No documentation or proof is needed. Please come visit this Saturday. We look forward to seeing you! Our organization was formed for the sole purpose of delivering free bags of groceries for families in need in the North Jersey area. We have been operating consistently each month for one year. Our food pantry was featured in both the Herald News and the Bergen Record last year. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at tariq08@gmail.com
Thanks!
152 Derrom Avenue in Paterson, NJ.
A grocery bag will be made available to all qualifying individuals. Such bags are available for those currently on government relief (food stamps, WIC, SSD, TANF, etc). Free bags are also available for anyone who is facing financial hardship (e.g. unemployed, large families with low income, etc.). Each bag consists of rice, pasta, cans of beans and vegetables, bread and tuna. No documentation or proof is needed. Please come visit this Saturday. We look forward to seeing you! Our organization was formed for the sole purpose of delivering free bags of groceries for families in need in the North Jersey area. We have been operating consistently each month for one year. Our food pantry was featured in both the Herald News and the Bergen Record last year. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at tariq08@gmail.com
Thanks!
No comments:
Post a Comment