local food pantries (Huntsville, Trinity: house, casino, vouchers)

[tammie2]

Where can I find food pantries in Huntsville?

It has always been a tradition for the kids to donate a portion of their candy(usually about half, but up to them) to a food pantry or the children's hospital. There isn't much of a children's hospital so where is a food pantry?

[ionlife]

Go into the phone book and check out the local situation. We are on a mailing list and send in a yearly donation that covers about 10 dinners for TG. Churches might have pantries. Call around.

This year we are knitting socks and mufflers and weaving blankets to give to the homeless. Should keep us off the streets and away from our candy bowl. We'd give away the candy but we're worried about the homeless not being able to go to the dentists.

[ionlife]

Downtown Rescue Mission

This might give you a place to start--

[tammie2]

I know that is always an option, but I was hoping someone had a favorite. I had my favorites in my old areas.

Especially after Katrina when our locals were getting the shaft in favor of the freeloading Katrina refugees that we took in.

So I am looking for a food pantry that helps our neighbors in times of need.

[Reactionary]

tammie2 - many churches run food pantries, for example, Trinity UMC, Holmes Street UMC and some other UMC (sorry forgot which one) 'team up' to run food pantries.

[ionlife]

So the downtown mission is not special enough?Why not? I guess I am a little confused by the motivation here.

[tammie2]

Downtown mission is fine, any charity is fine. Not that there aren't homeless children, but in the past we have given candy to food pantries that served local communities, not homeless shelters. For no other reason that the families are better served with candy...not that everyone doesn't love a treat now and then.

Several years in a row we gave candy to a local food pantry and each time we brought in more things(I am a bargain hunter and donate my good buys-the year our grocery stores gave free turkeys with $50 purchase, I had a years worth of papetowel, tp, diapers, etc. and we donated 32 turkeys) we were told how appreciated the candy was. They put it in ziplocs and gave one Ziploc to each child in the family.

We were told that several families didn't get to trick or treat due to parents work schedules, lack of costumes, or for one family the mother was hospitalized. I can't imagine. I am sure others would enjoy it, but that feedback meant so much to our family.

I guess maybe I compartmentalize my charity too much, but I am only one person and try to "spread it around" as much as I can. Blankets and turkeys go to the homeless(and once a year we *try* to cater a dinner for the homeless and for those that serve them), candy and random food bargains to the food pantry, baked goods to the retirement home(and in TX the police and fire dept), household goods to the DAV or purple heart.

And I can't say no if I see a need I can reasonably fulfill. Hence the adopt a senior, all the animals, Knights of Columbus booths to help my mothers husband, steak dinners with gifts of socks and t-shirts at Hines VA hospital in Chicago, etc.

For a time we spoke with parents at Ronald McDonald house Houston, but it became to hard on my son as he was the object of interest...he truly is a walking, talking miracle...his brain has too much damage to walk, but they forgot to tell him that, the damage *should* have grown with his brain, but it didn't(too much). He still knows he is special, but he no longer feels like a freak show. I hope someday he will reach out to others, but I won't force it. My son has been an inspiration to me, and continues to inspire me. I believe he could do a lot of good in the special needs realm....when he is ready.

Right or wrong, always compartmentalized.

[tammie2]

I will also add that I rarely donate cash and I don't believe in forced gubmint charity, it is too open for abuse, and charity should be a choice and should be for those that need it, not those that are selling their foodstamps and using red cross vouchers at the casino. I am complicated on top of being compartmentalized.

[ionlife]

Everyone gives different things in different ways for different reasons.

[tammie2]

Absolutely!!

If everyone did what they could, regardless of what or how large or small, can you imagine how great things would be? So many people do so many things to touch other's lives and each act is a small miracle for someone else.