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I'm just wondering how many people have experienced hunger and poverty? Have you ever been out of work and wondered how you could buy your next meal?
I have, and you never forget that feeling. It was humiliating and embarrassing and I was too ashamed to tell anyone. I would dream about food all the time, and try to imagine ways to steal it or get it for free.
One day, all I wanted was a cup of coffee. I walked up to a little coffee shop and asked for a free cup of coffee. I must have mumbled because the person behind the counter didn't quite hear me. He put down a small cup and said, "That'll be 90 cents please!" I looked down into the coffee and said, "I was hoping you would give me a cup for free. I don't have any money." He looked at me disdainfully and said, "Okay! But this is the last time!"
I walked away humiliated and sat down on the edge of the sidewalk to drink my coffee.
No. I have never known hunger. I would not be able to stop myself from helping a hungry person out. That's the mother in me, I guess, or more likely, the human in me.
Never that bad but I do remember one bad patch when my son was little and we had just fled my abusive ex who, it turned out, needed threatening reminders from the sheriff to pay child support. I had to make a box of mac and cheese last for a couple of days. It was scary. Since then, I have to keep a reasonably well-stocked pantry and fridge. I get really nervous when the fridge and cupboards start looking empty.
I posted this on the Food forum but this may be a good place for it here, too. It's a monthly food distribution program that is open to EVERYONE.
Angel Food Ministries is definitely a resource to check out. You don't have to go through any sort of financial information to participate either. A friend of ours, who's not wealthy but not actually "poor" does participate and the food is excellent, and very affordable.
I have. My roomate and I would go to a Christian-run food pantry and get food boxes. We also would scrape enough to buy bulk pasta/rice/beans. We picked edible greens to add to our pasta. I still don't like spaghetti all that well after eating it over an over and over. The food pantry was a life-saver.
It's nice to have things like Angel Food around. I'm not in that place anymore, but I've been there. And I'm an educated hard working person. It can happen to anyone.
Never that bad but I do remember one bad patch when my son was little and we had just fled my abusive ex who, it turned out, needed threatening reminders from the sheriff to pay child support. I had to make a box of mac and cheese last for a couple of days. It was scary. Since then, I have to keep a reasonably well-stocked pantry and fridge. I get really nervous when the fridge and cupboards start looking empty.
I posted this on the Food forum but this may be a good place for it here, too. It's a monthly food distribution program that is open to EVERYONE.
My mom grew up in the depression. She taught me that a full pantry is a good pantry. It was a good lesson for a number of times when it became a lot less full.
I was homeless for 6 months. That taught me a lession that I will never forget. The most important things in life are shelter, food and the safety of your family. I pay my bills for these things and THEN decide what to do with the play money. And am working toward a pantry that has no empty space again after leaving most of it to the neighbors when I moved.
Before our current economic meltdown is done and finally improves, many more people will learn that its far better to fill up the pantry and freezer than buying toys and having expensive fun.
My mom grew up in the depression. She taught me that a full pantry is a good pantry. It was a good lesson for a number of times when it became a lot less full.
I was homeless for 6 months. That taught me a lesson that I will never forget. The most important things in life are shelter, food and the safety of your family. I pay my bills for these things and THEN decide what to do with the play money. And am working toward a pantry that has no empty space again after leaving most of it to the neighbors when I moved.
Before our current economic meltdown is done and finally improves, many more people will learn that its far better to fill up the pantry and freezer than buying toys and having expensive fun.
Nightbird --
Yes, I think having that experience of being hungry or not having a home changes a person. Because I know what it's like to go without, I get very, very frightened when I face not having work.
And when you are hungry, boy does food look different. You really dream about food, an abundance of food.
I agree with you, I think more people are going to start to realize how scary things can get!
I remember some very tough times when I was 19 & 20. Power used to get turned off and I lived on Ramen Noodles. I never starved because I always tried to work in a restaurant of some kind. For me thankfully that's as rough as it got. I was lucky enough to be able to find work and at least keep moving forward. For many others I know it has been much much rougher. But I never forget those days. I am actually very cheap now and never spend on anything I don't need. For me it was a good lesson. Some people never learn from it so I am thankful that I did.
When I dropped out of Highschool and got a job at KFC and slept in my truck. I was able to eat at work and save up money. Did that for 6 months until I turned 18 and had about 10 grand saved up that a family member stole and I was **** broke again. I should have just went into the military.
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