Quote:
Originally Posted by lastcardcharlie
Define what you mean by "involved with" -- you mean they're advised to use foodbanks? The cost per calorie of gifted or donated food is obviously different for the same item if purchased. They seem to emphasize emergency food supplies rather than an ongoing everyday relationship, though.
I also notice this one has one location and is open from 11:00 to 2:00 Monday to Friday. (Ours is 8:00 to 4:00 and is an hour's walk from the nearest bus stop and thus can be said to be only accessible by car. It's in an industrial area, and I found it accidentally on a sales call; at first I assumed it must be just a head office and there are field offices where people can reach them more easily, but nope, our food bank has located itself as far from poor people-- from everyone-- as possible and restricted its hours to business hours. While laid-off people who still have gas in their car can reach it, working poors are SOL and still have to use grocery stores.)
I think the thinking surrounding this issue inclines toward, "don't eat that, you stupid* poor person, just get something from the foodbank! I have to BUY my tinned meat/fish you lucky duck" without being realistic about foodbanks' own position (both ideological and geographic). They are not so common or accessible that the only thing to conclude from a poor not using one is that he is so dumb and innumerate that he'd rather pay for something he can get for free.
* Stupid and dirty: This foodbank is rolling out classes called "Eat Well, Spend Less!" that "teach people how to cook when on a low budget. The course includes basic cookery lessons as well as providing advice on food budgeting,
hygiene and nutrition."
Illuminating.
Anyway. Yes I am aware of the existence of foodbanks; their list is about as carb and sugar-heavy as you can get, and with their limited hours and single location my position is that for a number of reasons their clients get most of their food, even if it's the same food, from the same places as everyone else. To get 2000 calories you can spend $30 on chicken breast, vegetables and a baguette, or you can make $3.00 worth of pasta and sauce. The pasta is the better choice by a very wide margin, and you still have change for a soda.