OT: Unbelievable....

Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.

She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
& friends.

Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
2009.

What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
guess I'm just not worth good food."

I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
time is was given out.

I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
two items, but the majority of what was in the box?

Thanks for listening....

--
BessieBee
Leslie
OOF :-)

"My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
~My Grandma, 1898-1981~

"BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
news:f61nm5htjfm3b296rnl493vrlbbrvgckpk@4ax.com...
> Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
> through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
> was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
> to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
> She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
> nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
> veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
> thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
> & friends.
>
> Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
> beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
> expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
> cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
> 2009.
>
> What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
> family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
> guess I'm just not worth good food."
>
> I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
> an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
> hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
> you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
> its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
> bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
> time is was given out.
>
> I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
> when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
> anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
> two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
> Thanks for listening....

Well, you could look at it this way...if the food was so old, the particular
pantry must have a tough time giving away what it has.
So there must be a surplus of food.

Mark
tof

>Well, you could look at it this way...if the food was so old, the particular
>pantry must have a tough time giving away what it has.
>So there must be a surplus of food.
>
>Mark
>tof

No, Mark, I know that's not the case. There are only a few food
pantries here and they are always asking for donations of "food for
those less fortunate." Unemployment around here is very high and we
have a lot of low income jobs so there is always a need for the
services of the food pantries and services for low income families.

I just wish I could convince myself it was an honest mistake, but the
sheer volume in one box makes me wonder.....

The saddest part was seeing my young relative bawling her eyes out
because she was made to feel like she wasn't worth a box of unexpired
food....

--
BessieBee
Leslie
OOF :-)

"My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
~My Grandma, 1898-1981~

"BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message

> I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
> you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
> its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
> bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
> time is was given out.

The bread and other perishables are totally unreasonable to give away.

However much of the canned and prepackaged food is still good well past it's
"sell by" or "best buy" date. I'm still finding canned stuff that we packed
in 2004 to move to SC and each item gets a "smell test" is all. No - I
would never deliberately give the stuff ot a food kitchen... but niether
would I reject it merely via a date code.

I can personally assure you that 6 year old instant mashed spuds, kept
saeled in a DRY environment, don't lose a thing in translation. A little
butter and salt will fix them right up.

My most prized food posessions in the whole world are my 2 remaining boxes
of Nabisco Cheese Tid-Bits with a date code of 2364AK101. I bought a case
back when they were discontinued in 200. I open up one box per year. So
far - so good. But the last few years I've had to re-bake them a little to
crisp them up - and the flavor is fading a bit. Not only would I *not* give
them to a food kitchen - but I'd shoot anyone who came to take them from me.

I always thought they'd make a comeback before my case was all gone....
(sigh)

My point is, that were I to hold the needy to my own standards of food......
it gets messy.

-W

"BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message

> The saddest part was seeing my young relative bawling her eyes out
> because she was made to feel like she wasn't worth a box of unexpired
> food....

Yes, she was.... 30-40% of them by your tally.
Tell her to focus on the *good* 35% of the people who gave her properly
dated food.

And no.... under no circumstance may she have my 10 year old Cheese
Tid-Bits.

-W

On Feb 4, 8:56*pm, BessieBee <Bessie...@fakeaddress.com> wrote:
> Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
> through the county. *To help her while the paperwork got started she
> was referred to a local food pantry. *Arrangements were made for her
> to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
> She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
> nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
> veggies. *Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. *She was
> thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
> & friends.
>
> Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
> beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. *Some packaged pancake mix
> expired in June 2009. *Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
> cake mix expired in 2008. *Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
> 2009.
>
> What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
> family turned into an evening of tears. *All she kept saying was, "I
> guess I'm just not worth good food." *
>
> I don't know what to think. *Accepting food from a food pantry is not
> an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
> hurts. *I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
> you want it? *Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? *Am I being
> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
> its "sell by" or best used by" date? *For cripes sake, the loaf of
> bread expired in November! *It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
> time is was given out.
>
> I'm really angry. *I've not been the most generous person in the world
> when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
> anything that wouldn't give to my own family. *I can understand one or
> two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
> Thanks for listening....
>
> --
> BessieBee
> Leslie
> OOF *:-)
>
> "My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
> It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
> * * * * * ~My Grandma, 1898-1981~

I think I will take your story as incentive to do something about it.
I have association with a church that feeds the homeless and has such
a pantry.
I've never contributed.
Tomorrow, I will.
Maybe you could get the rest of us to also.
Kinda like we get each other to exercise.

"Clams Canino" wrote
>... My most prized food posessions in the whole world are my 2 remaining
>boxes of Nabisco Cheese Tid-Bits with a date code of 2364AK101. I bought a
>case back when they were discontinued in 200. I open up one box per year.
>So far - so good....

Holy shit... They've lasted for over 1800 years?
I think that j-u-s-t surpasses the shelf life of a Hostess Twinkie!

I would agree with David, your post shows you care, so why not go there and
check the supplies.

maybe it was only that one box because of one ignorant person, it doesn't
mean everyone else does it. If you could find out that the other food is
good you could go back to your friend and tell her about it, so she can feel
better too.

I see it often at our Salvation Army stores where people donate their cloth
and things they no longer need,, I find cloth there I would throw straight
in the garbage and I have no understanding why people drop of their junk in
those places. Being poor doesn't mean to have to accept broken things. It
just pisses me off but than I also look at some nice cloth people drop off
and I know there is good in this world.

PolarBear

"BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
news:f61nm5htjfm3b296rnl493vrlbbrvgckpk@4ax.com...
> Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
> through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
> was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
> to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
> She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
> nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
> veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
> thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
> & friends.
>
> Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
> beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
> expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
> cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
> 2009.
>
> What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
> family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
> guess I'm just not worth good food."
>
> I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
> an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
> hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
> you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
> its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
> bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
> time is was given out.
>
> I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
> when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
> anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
> two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
> Thanks for listening....
>
> --
> BessieBee
> Leslie
> OOF :-)
>
> "My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
> It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
> ~My Grandma, 1898-1981~
>

"Jef." <jef@quitbuddies.org> wrote in message
news:hkg6gb$c26$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> "Clams Canino" wrote
>>... My most prized food posessions in the whole world are my 2 remaining
>>boxes of Nabisco Cheese Tid-Bits with a date code of 2364AK101. I bought
>>a case back when they were discontinued in 200. I open up one box per
>>year. So far - so good....
>
> Holy shit... They've lasted for over 1800 years?
> I think that j-u-s-t surpasses the shelf life of a Hostess Twinkie!

Heh... I knew I'd pay dearly for that typo. I meant 2001.

-W

On Thu, 4 Feb 2010 23:23:39 -0500, "Jef." <jef@quitbuddies.org> wrote:

>"Clams Canino" wrote
>>... My most prized food posessions in the whole world are my 2 remaining
>>boxes of Nabisco Cheese Tid-Bits with a date code of 2364AK101. I bought a
>>case back when they were discontinued in 200. I open up one box per year.
>>So far - so good....
>
>Holy shit... They've lasted for over 1800 years?
>I think that j-u-s-t surpasses the shelf life of a Hostess Twinkie!

And Spam.

On Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:56:47 -0600, BessieBee
<BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote:

>Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
>through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
>was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
>to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
>She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
>nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
>veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
>thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
>& friends.
>
>Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
>beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
>expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
>cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
>2009.
>
>What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
>family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
>guess I'm just not worth good food."
>
>I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
>an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
>hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
>you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
>the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
>unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
>its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
>bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
>I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
>time is was given out.
>
>I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
>when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
>anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
>two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
>Thanks for listening....

I really feel that I ought to have something to say here but I just
don't have much. Over the years I've referred hundreds and hundreds
of people to our local food banks, but I really don't know much of
what goes on there. Now that I'm retired I'm hoping to get off my
lazy butt and volunteer at the Salvation Army. We have had a barrel
at our office for the last few holiday seasons so we can donate. I
usually go to the store and buy food for them and always brand names
because that's all I've ever given my family (Del Monte, Green Giant
and so forth rather than store brands). We have made it a point to
not put expired food in the barrel. I have also given lots of fresh
vegetables (grown by me) to the SA during the summer when I have more
than I need. Also, our Salvation Army gives out bread and bakery
products on a daily basis which I assume are perhaps 'day old'.
The only censure I would give to your relative is that the food (as
bad as it was and as wrong as that was) that was given to her
shouldn't have been used to feed anyone other than her and her
children. I do understand the desire to feed others though and am
truly sorry that she was given expired stuff.
I hope your relative's financial assistance has come through now.
Sue

I've toured our local Food Bank with my Girl Scout troop, and my in-laws
used to volunteer there. One of the first things they do with donations is
check the expiration dates and toss anything that's past, because A LOT of
people donate expired goods.

One painless way to donate is when the grocery store has a
buy-one-get-one-free sale. I buy two and donate the free one, it costs me
nothing and the Food Bank benefits.

"BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
news:f61nm5htjfm3b296rnl493vrlbbrvgckpk@4ax.com...
> Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
> through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
> was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
> to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
> She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
> nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
> veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
> thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
> & friends.
>
> Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
> beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
> expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
> cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
> 2009.
>
> What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
> family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
> guess I'm just not worth good food."
>
> I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
> an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
> hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
> you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
> its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
> bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
> time is was given out.
>
> I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
> when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
> anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
> two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
> Thanks for listening....
>
> --
> BessieBee
> Leslie
> OOF :-)
>
> "My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
> It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
> ~My Grandma, 1898-1981~

In article <f61nm5htjfm3b296rnl493vrlbbrvgckpk@4ax.com>,
BessieBee <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote:
>Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
>through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
>was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
>to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
>She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
>nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
>veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
>thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
>& friends.
>
>Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
>beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
>expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
>cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
>2009.
>
>What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
>family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
>guess I'm just not worth good food."
>
>I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
>an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
>hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
>you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
>the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
>unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
>its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
>bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
>I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
>time is was given out.
>
>I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
>when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
>anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
>two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
>Thanks for listening....
>
>--
>BessieBee
>Leslie
>OOF :-)
>
>"My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
>It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
> ~My Grandma, 1898-1981~

Those dates are "best if used by" and "recommended use date."
It doesn't mean they're spoiled or unsafe after those dates.

The canned and frozen food is fine.

Some years ago some canned food was found in Antarctica left
by one of explorer Scott's expeditions. It was opened and
found to be OK. It was nearly one hundred years old.

"BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
news:f61nm5htjfm3b296rnl493vrlbbrvgckpk@4ax.com...
> Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
> through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
> was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
> to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>
> She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
> nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
> veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
> thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
> & friends.
>
> Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
> beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
> expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
> cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
> 2009.
>
> What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
> family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
> guess I'm just not worth good food."
>
> I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
> an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
> hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
> you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
> its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
> bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
> time is was given out.
>
> I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
> when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
> anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
> two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>
> Thanks for listening....
>

To complain about something someone can't provide for themselves is
pathetic.
The young relative who broke out in tears, because the food she received
didn't meet her standard, is as much to blame as the person who gave it to
her, if not more. Truth is, the local food bank is the responsibility of
ALL of us. People volunteering their time or donating food are part of the
solution, and anything apart from that is part of the problem, obviously.

"Anne D." <anned61@gEEmail.com> wrote in message
news:hkh523$g59$1@news.eternal-september.org...
> One of the first things they do with donations is check the expiration
> dates and toss anything that's past, because A LOT of people donate
> expired goods.

Shouldn't they be sending them to Haiti (for example) as opposed to tossing
them?
While something slightly out of code may not be "good enough" for poorer
Americans, I'm sure that "lesser people" of the world would still appreciate
the food.

> One painless way to donate is when the grocery store has a
> buy-one-get-one-free sale. I buy two and donate the free one, it costs me
> nothing and the Food Bank benefits.

Yes... when we donate food it's usually at the food bank at the store. But
once a year a food drive comes door to door and I just reach into the
cupboard and grab a few boxes and cans. No, I don't check the dates - any
more than I check dates when I open a can of soup or veggies.

-W

"Anne D." wrote
> I've toured our local Food Bank with my Girl Scout troop, and my in-laws
> used to volunteer there. One of the first things they do with donations
> is check the expiration dates and toss anything that's past, because A LOT
> of people donate expired goods.
>
> One painless way to donate is when the grocery store has a
> buy-one-get-one-free sale. I buy two and donate the free one, it costs me
> nothing and the Food Bank benefits.

I used to volunteer in the kitchen at the Community For Creative
Non-violence's homeless shelter in D.C. The place used to be one of the
sites of the old Federal City College, my alma mater. What was then my
English classroom became the room in which my friend Mitch Snyder lived, and
later hanged himself. He was one of my few real, honest-to-God heroes. I
still miss him. http://www.theccnv.org/history.htm Spend some time and watch
the movie on this page if you don't know about him, or his work with the
CCNV. Martin Sheen played Mitch in a made for TV movie about his life and
work.

Back when I was in Culinary school, I'd dragoon a bunch of fellow students
into coming with me to the shelter at 2nd and D. We'd pitch in and crank out
meals for the folks there. Damn near everything was donated. People brought
stuff from food banks, other volunteers would spread out around the city and
cadge stuff from restaurants and grocery stores. They weren't picky, because
they worked on a budget of... basically nothing-- but anything that was
obviously spoiled or cans that were dinged up or any food seriously
questionable was tossed.

I worked briefly at a Safeway, and tried to make some sort of arrangement
with the store management to take their discards. They refused. Their policy
was not to donate *anything* they threw away. This was predicated on the
idea that they might be sued if someone got sick, I believe. They didn't
want the liability.

I couldn't take it, but how about if I paid them for it? Gave them a few
dollars so they could say they sold it to me? Nope. Bastards. So, I'd simply
steal it. Dumpster diving. Perfectly usable bread and rolls, baked goods,
produce... it would otherwise go into a landfill somewhere.

When you've lost damn near everything, a little free *anything* makes a
world of difference.
Most of us have no idea how blessed we are to be able to sit down to a
simple meal in a warm home.

On Feb 5, 2:37*pm, "Jef." <j...@quitbuddies.org> wrote:
> "Anne D." wrote
>
> > I've toured our local Food Bank with my Girl Scout troop, and my in-laws
> > used to volunteer there. *One of the first things they do with donations
> > is check the expiration dates and toss anything that's past, because A LOT
> > of people donate expired goods.
>
> > One painless way to donate is when the grocery store has a
> > buy-one-get-one-free sale. *I buy two and donate the free one, it costs me
> > nothing and the Food Bank benefits.
>
> I used to volunteer in the kitchen at the Community For Creative
> Non-violence's homeless shelter in D.C. *The place used to be one of the
> sites of the old Federal City College, my alma mater. What was then my
> English classroom became the room in which my friend Mitch Snyder lived, and
> later *hanged himself. He was one of my few real, honest-to-God heroes.I
> still miss him.http://www.theccnv.org/history.htmSpend some time and watch
> the movie on this page if you don't know about him, or his work with the
> CCNV. Martin Sheen played Mitch in a made for TV movie about his life and
> work.
>
> Back when I was in Culinary school, I'd dragoon a bunch of fellow students
> into coming with me to the shelter at 2nd and D. We'd pitch in and crank out
> meals for the folks there. Damn near everything was donated. People brought
> stuff from food banks, other volunteers would spread out around the city and
> cadge stuff from restaurants and grocery stores. They weren't picky, because
> they worked on a budget of... basically nothing-- but anything that was
> obviously spoiled or cans that were dinged up or any food seriously
> questionable was tossed.
>
> I worked briefly at a Safeway, and tried to make some sort of arrangement
> with the store management to take their discards. They refused. Their policy
> was not to donate *anything* they threw away. This was predicated on the
> idea that they might be sued if someone got sick, I believe. They didn't
> want the liability.
>
> I couldn't take it, but how about if I paid them for it? Gave them a few
> dollars so they could say they sold it to me? Nope. Bastards. So, I'd simply
> steal it. Dumpster diving. Perfectly usable bread and rolls, baked goods,
> produce... it would otherwise go into a landfill somewhere.
>
> When you've lost damn near everything, a little free *anything* makes a
> world of difference.
> Most of us have no idea how blessed we are to be able to sit down to a
> simple meal in a warm home.

Jef, what a brilliant and worthy effort the CCNV is. I didn't know
about the movie about Mitch Snyder; I'll be combing Netflix after I
finish writing this. Right now, I am a bit ashamed that I don't even
know if NYC has such a service for the homeless. I will find out and
while I am not able to actually work in a homeless shelter, I can
certainly donate a bit to one. I am also reminded of the Depression-
era march on Washington by the Bonus Army. Army vets from the first
World War had been promised a bonus but never received it until FDR
took up their cause.

Thanks for posting this.

Joyce

"kestrel" <joyhton@aol.com> wrote in message news:42df1105-e507-43d6-a7ea-

I am also reminded of the Depression-
era march on Washington by the Bonus Army. Army vets from the first
World War had been promised a bonus but never received it until FDR
took up their cause.
___________________________________

There were a whole lot of Revolutionary War soldiers who didn't get thier
pay at all - until they surrounded Congress in Philly and "asked" for thier
money.

But those where the good old days - when men with guns could actually
surround Congress and get what what was due them. )

-W

My little heart group at church started cooking and taking a meal to the
local homeless shelter once a month. Last month I didn't get to go but I
sent cornbread. Can't wait to do it again!

I'm surprised that they gave out expired food, and even more surprised that
the recipient equated an expired date to her worth. I hope she had someone
to speak some truth and love into her life!
With hope and heart,
Kathleen


"kestrel" <joyhton@aol.com> wrote in message
news:42df1105-e507-43d6-a7ea-441d3dc1d030@d27g2000yqn.googlegroups.com...
On Feb 5, 2:37 pm, "Jef." <j...@quitbuddies.org> wrote:
> "Anne D." wrote
>
> > I've toured our local Food Bank with my Girl Scout troop, and my in-laws
> > used to volunteer there. One of the first things they do with donations
> > is check the expiration dates and toss anything that's past, because A
> > LOT
> > of people donate expired goods.
>
> > One painless way to donate is when the grocery store has a
> > buy-one-get-one-free sale. I buy two and donate the free one, it costs
> > me
> > nothing and the Food Bank benefits.
>
> I used to volunteer in the kitchen at the Community For Creative
> Non-violence's homeless shelter in D.C. The place used to be one of the
> sites of the old Federal City College, my alma mater. What was then my
> English classroom became the room in which my friend Mitch Snyder lived,
> and
> later hanged himself. He was one of my few real, honest-to-God heroes. I
> still miss him.http://www.theccnv.org/history.htmSpend some time and watch
> the movie on this page if you don't know about him, or his work with the
> CCNV. Martin Sheen played Mitch in a made for TV movie about his life and
> work.
>
> Back when I was in Culinary school, I'd dragoon a bunch of fellow students
> into coming with me to the shelter at 2nd and D. We'd pitch in and crank
> out
> meals for the folks there. Damn near everything was donated. People
> brought
> stuff from food banks, other volunteers would spread out around the city
> and
> cadge stuff from restaurants and grocery stores. They weren't picky,
> because
> they worked on a budget of... basically nothing-- but anything that was
> obviously spoiled or cans that were dinged up or any food seriously
> questionable was tossed.
>
> I worked briefly at a Safeway, and tried to make some sort of arrangement
> with the store management to take their discards. They refused. Their
> policy
> was not to donate *anything* they threw away. This was predicated on the
> idea that they might be sued if someone got sick, I believe. They didn't
> want the liability.
>
> I couldn't take it, but how about if I paid them for it? Gave them a few
> dollars so they could say they sold it to me? Nope. Bastards. So, I'd
> simply
> steal it. Dumpster diving. Perfectly usable bread and rolls, baked goods,
> produce... it would otherwise go into a landfill somewhere.
>
> When you've lost damn near everything, a little free *anything* makes a
> world of difference.
> Most of us have no idea how blessed we are to be able to sit down to a
> simple meal in a warm home.

Jef, what a brilliant and worthy effort the CCNV is. I didn't know
about the movie about Mitch Snyder; I'll be combing Netflix after I
finish writing this. Right now, I am a bit ashamed that I don't even
know if NYC has such a service for the homeless. I will find out and
while I am not able to actually work in a homeless shelter, I can
certainly donate a bit to one. I am also reminded of the Depression-
era march on Washington by the Bonus Army. Army vets from the first
World War had been promised a bonus but never received it until FDR
took up their cause.

Thanks for posting this.

Joyce

I heard that a warehouse full of Longhorn Tshirts (you know, saying "we
won", the ones they make up ahead of time, taking a chance that we wouldn't
lose, like we did) is headed to Haiti. I don't know how to feel about that.
On one hand, it's a great thing - people who don't have tshirts wont care
and will be happy to have a shirt. OTOH... it just seemed kind of wrong to
me.
With hope and heart,
Kathleen



"Clams Canino" <cc-marine@earthdink.net> wrote in message
news:x6qdnb-_4aG3zvHWnZ2dnUVZ_j2dnZ2d@earthlink.com...
>
> "Anne D." <anned61@gEEmail.com> wrote in message
> news:hkh523$g59$1@news.eternal-september.org...
>> One of the first things they do with donations is check the expiration
>> dates and toss anything that's past, because A LOT of people donate
>> expired goods.
>
> Shouldn't they be sending them to Haiti (for example) as opposed to
> tossing them?
> While something slightly out of code may not be "good enough" for poorer
> Americans, I'm sure that "lesser people" of the world would still
> appreciate the food.
>
> > One painless way to donate is when the grocery store has a
>> buy-one-get-one-free sale. I buy two and donate the free one, it costs
>> me nothing and the Food Bank benefits.
>
> Yes... when we donate food it's usually at the food bank at the store.
> But once a year a food drive comes door to door and I just reach into the
> cupboard and grab a few boxes and cans. No, I don't check the dates - any
> more than I check dates when I open a can of soup or veggies.
>
> -W
>
>

People do it at church too. Let's give to ______ and they start dropping
off junk.
/me shaking head
With hope and heart,
Kathleen

"PolarBear" <carmensk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:xkNan.14898$4p5.5802@newsfe22.iad...
>I would agree with David, your post shows you care, so why not go there and
>check the supplies.
>
> maybe it was only that one box because of one ignorant person, it doesn't
> mean everyone else does it. If you could find out that the other food is
> good you could go back to your friend and tell her about it, so she can
> feel better too.
>
> I see it often at our Salvation Army stores where people donate their
> cloth and things they no longer need,, I find cloth there I would throw
> straight in the garbage and I have no understanding why people drop of
> their junk in those places. Being poor doesn't mean to have to accept
> broken things. It just pisses me off but than I also look at some nice
> cloth people drop off and I know there is good in this world.
>
> PolarBear
>
> "BessieBee" <BessieBee@fakeaddress.com> wrote in message
> news:f61nm5htjfm3b296rnl493vrlbbrvgckpk@4ax.com...
>> Very recently a young relative applied for financial assistance
>> through the county. To help her while the paperwork got started she
>> was referred to a local food pantry. Arrangements were made for her
>> to go by the panty and pick up a box of food.
>>
>> She was given a rather generous size box of all kinds of food -
>> nothing fresh, but lots of soup, some cereal, canned fruits and
>> veggies. Oh, there was one football sized frozen ham. She was
>> thrilled and happily planned to make a "decent meal" for a few family
>> & friends.
>>
>> Turns out, though, that a good 60-70% of the stuff in the box is well
>> beyond its "sell by" or "best by" date. Some packaged pancake mix
>> expired in June 2009. Several cans of veggies expired in Aug. 2009. A
>> cake mix expired in 2008. Three boxes of mac & cheese expired in May
>> 2009.
>>
>> What was supposed to be an evening of a young lady happily cooking for
>> family turned into an evening of tears. All she kept saying was, "I
>> guess I'm just not worth good food."
>>
>> I don't know what to think. Accepting food from a food pantry is not
>> an easy thing, but then to have most of it beyond its useful date
>> hurts. I don't suppose the expired stuff would hurt anyone, but would
>> you want it? Are there people out there cleaning out their pantry so
>> the "poor people" can eat their expired stuff? Am I being
>> unreasonable to expect that food from a food pantry should be within
>> its "sell by" or best used by" date? For cripes sake, the loaf of
>> bread expired in November! It wasn't fuzzy, but was hard as a rock.
>> I'm guessing it was frozen at some point, but completely thawed by the
>> time is was given out.
>>
>> I'm really angry. I've not been the most generous person in the world
>> when it comes to donating food to pantries, but I've never given
>> anything that wouldn't give to my own family. I can understand one or
>> two items, but the majority of what was in the box?
>>
>> Thanks for listening....
>>
>> --
>> BessieBee
>> Leslie
>> OOF :-)
>>
>> "My face, I don't mind it because I am behind it.
>> It's the folks out front that get the jolt."
>> ~My Grandma, 1898-1981~
>>

"Kathleen" <lovebirds1201@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:7t3pnkF8hoU1@mid.individual.net...
>I heard that a warehouse full of Longhorn Tshirts (you know, saying "we
>won", the ones they make up ahead of time, taking a chance that we wouldn't
>lose, like we did) is headed to Haiti. I don't know how to feel about
>that. On one hand, it's a great thing - people who don't have tshirts wont
>care and will be happy to have a shirt. OTOH... it just seemed kind of
>wrong to me.

Don't worry.
They don't know WTF a "Longhorn" is - unless it's wrapped up in a sesame
seed bun.

But they do know what the warmth of a clean new shirt means!!!

-W

Bruce is correct. Canned food will last for a century, provided no
holes are in the can. Frozen food may get "freezer burn" but that
doesn't mean it isn't edible.

A "best by" date is not the same as a "sell by" date, and only indicates
optimal freshness, not whether the food is likely to be spoiled. Meats
and other fresh perishables will have sell-by dates, which should be
adhered to. A best-by date is more for the stores to know which of
their inventory was most recently purchased. It doesn't mean that the
food shouldn't be eaten.

hugs,

elle

Bruce Watson wrote:

>
> Those dates are "best if used by" and "recommended use date."
> It doesn't mean they're spoiled or unsafe after those dates.
>
> The canned and frozen food is fine.
>
> Some years ago some canned food was found in Antarctica left
> by one of explorer Scott's expeditions. It was opened and
> found to be OK. It was nearly one hundred years old.