Another way to help those on food stamps?

[Sam_2.0]

So all this talk about food stamps recently has me thinking about ways to help those around me. One thing I've really been thinking about is how to take care of the items that are not supplied by food stamps - personal care, cleaning supplies, paper goods. Let's say someone is receiving the full fs benefit and has NO income to cover the other items. A lot of the natural/frugal DIY solutions really could help out in these situations since most of them are mixed up using "food" items.

For example: "toothpaste" can be made with equal parts salt and baking soda. May not taste pleasant, but it does the job. Vinegar and baking soda are great basic household cleaners and can also be shampoo replacements. Coconut oil/olive oil could make a good moisturizer. These items could be purchased for about $6 per month at my local grocery store.

I wonder if some information on how to make these items would be helpful? I was thinking of putting together some "kits" for our local food pantry. Toothbrushes, some soap, toilet paper, and some empty spray bottles with instructions on how to mix up these personal care and household items.

[Sam_2.0]

Another thing I was thinking of was coming up with a weekly menu consisting of all fs eligible items. Something to use as a guide, but would feed a family of 4 off the average benefit without necessarily having to make everything from scratch. Quicker meals that can be made using basic cooking skills and a microwave or cooktop, but still trying to get healthier options in. I've not seen anything like that yet, but maybe the food pantry already supplies a guide or list.

[NancysSummerSip]

I like the idea! I'd also like to see my local food pantries accept non-food items. The one I donate to every year (in a local church that also puts on our Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot) does not. I get a lot of free and BOGO H&B items; I would have no issue donating some of those.

I was doing some volunteer work for a local homeless shelter earlier this year; one of the first thing new clients received was a personal care bag, with toiletry items. Many clients told me it was the first time in years they had receive a full complement of such items at any one time. And when they looked and felt clean, it made them feel like they could do anything they had to in order to re-establish their lives.

[Sam_2.0]

Nancy, you reminded me of a homeless outreach ministry here that gives out kits to the homeless they see (there are a dozen links on Pinterest for these). Food, water, basic toiletries, all things that homeless people said they would love to receive. But most of all, the people said they were happy just to have someone acknowledge their presence. People are so turned off by panhandlers that they rarely even look them in the eyes and acknowledge the person standing there.

[NancysSummerSip]

Part of the problem some of the pantries have is space. The products do take up shelf space, of course. And it's a spending issue. People need food to survive, and the H&B stuff comes in secondary to food. But for me, the H&B kits are the factor that can make a person feel human again.

I'd like to see at least sandwich-baggie size kits used - filled with small, sample-size soap, shampoo, toothpaste, comb, lotion, etc. Even for people who are not homeless, a gift of one of these might represent something nicer than the basic, cheap items they use now, because food purchases take up so much of their budget. And many of us get these sample-size items, especially from traveling. Or we get larger ones in gift baskets, or on sale.

[Sam_2.0]

I wonder if we can purchase sample-sized items in bulk? I am also thinking one of the dry laundry sheets in a baggie with some quarters so they can wash their clothes.

**Edit** this site seems to have a lot of good items for a decent price. Could put together a basic hygiene kit for about $5 or so: www.alltravelsizes.com/economyitems.html

[Sam_2.0]

Oh my goodness. Perusing pinterest for ideas on the homeless kits, I ran across these: www.thethriftinessmiss.com/2012/04/1st-project-night-night-complete.html Night-Night bags for kids on their first night in foster care. I think DD and I need to find out where these can be donated and make up some. I think we should also include a glow-stick for a bit of added night-time comfort.

[zibazinski]

We do it with the hotel toiletries for the women's abuse shelter. A lot of these women flee with their children and whatever's they have on. Having shampoo and conditioner and some nice smelling soap and body lotion might help them feel a bit better.

[raeoflyte]

I love this idea Sam! I planned to do stockings for teens in foster care this year, and the lists are great.

I really like the idea of a bag of essentials for homeless people.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Sad story....

When I was working in the dental van, we would send electric toothbrushes (the cheap ones you can buy in the grocery store, not Sonicares, etc.) home with the kids. The brushes were donated through one of the companies that we worked with. Parents would steal the toothbrushes and sell them, so that it got to the point where we would open the packages and brush the kids teeth with the toothbrushes (even though their teeth had already been professionally cleaned) in order to get the new toothbrushes 'used' so they wouldn't get diverted.

[giramomma]

The food pantry associated with our church has a separate personal toiletries pantry.

Our church also does the Angel Tree program, where folks buy gifts for incarcerated parents. Besides the kids getting gifts, the families also get a basket of food and a basket of cleaning supplies/personal toiletries. We always do the cleaning supplies, and put them in a laundry basket.

We also donate personal supplies along with school supplies that help the homeless kids in the district. I figure the only thing worse than be the poor, homeless kid in school is being the poor, homeless, and smelly kid.

I know, at least for hair care, there's a great need for hair care specific to African American hair.

It's gotten so that I know when to look for coupons so I get good deals on deodorant, tooth brushes, and when we need to buy extra from Costco (when we have coupons..)

I always figure there are enough organizations that give toys/clothes to the kids, that it doesn't hurt that we don't.

Another thing to consider adding to your is new underwear. Places are ALWAYS looking for new underwear for kids.

[Sam_2.0]

Mich - so sad I hate hearing stories like that.

One thing I am really trying to overcome, personally (just for me!), is my prejudice against those on assistance. I see aid and immediately think "Coach-purse-toting-crab-legs-eating-Cadillac-driving-good-for-nothing-scammer." I am pretty ashamed to admit that those are my actual thoughts. I work with low-income people all of the time and find myself thinking that they are just playing the game, looking for the next handout. But I am trying to will my heart to become un-jaded, if that is even possible. To stop and think about each person. Because each situation truly is unique. And most people on assistance are really elderly or disabled or working hard and still unable to make ends meet. So if some people scam the system, then they will hopefully eventually face the consequences of that. But it is not my place to judge the whole based on the actions of a very few. It is my place to help those in my immediate community because I have been blessed with the resources to give back while still making sure my family's needs have all been provided for. And if I end up assisting someone who didn't really "need" it, then that is on their conscience and not on mine.

But the reality for my county (in utility assistance - the area where I have a lot of contact), most people getting assistance - 95% - are first-time applicants. Not scammers, nor repeat "offenders". The majority of recipients are elderly, followed by disabled, and then followed by working poor. The 5% of people who are repeat applicants are mainly elderly or disabled. I am trying to consciously remind myself of the majority and not to judge the whole group by the 1-2 per year that really take advantage of me. But having close contact with these social service agencies helping assist my customers with utility bills has really brought to my view just how many people in my immediate county who need help. Real, tangible help.

I talked with my sister and mom tonight about forgoing gifts for adults this year at Christmas, and instead getting together to do some homeless kits, foster care kits, and working with our city's food pantry. I don't need anything. And this would make my heart so much happier - to know that someone else's basic needs were met, if only for a moment. To reach out to the neighbors around us and assist with their most basic needs. To generally make our small corner of this world a bit better.

**and now Sam jumps off her soap box**

[cronewitch]

We had a food bank near my house I was donating to. I don't like buying food for them so after the first time taking them food I decided to take diapers and feminine hygiene products and toilet paper. I would go on amazon and find the best deals and get huge boxes. I also used local grocery coupons or costco for TP. It was because I saw them giving out a couple of diapers to a few people but they said they don't diapers donated. I decided to provide them wrong so ordered every size with hundreds per box. I told them I wanted my own shelf at the food bank.

The food bank hours were very limited and you couldn't donate other hours since nobody was there and the business locked. They were open only a couple of hours twice a week while normal people were on the way home from work. They stopped being there at all. Another little thing was they liked to give a candy to the children who came. So I found after holiday candy to donate nothing like a candy cane in January to treat a child forced to go to the food bank with parents, if they are actually hungry they have a little something while the parent pick out food.

[zibazinski]

Also, my dentist gave me tons of toothbrushes and toothpaste just for the asking. I used to send them to the troops but now I take those to the women's shelter. If you ask, you will receive tons of stuff. Dentist has loads of samples and now gives a box to DD when she comes in and she drops it off to the drop off place because no one is supposed to know where the abuse shelter is. Of course that's not true but that's the premise.

[zibazinski]

Isn't that something about these low life's stealing from their own kids? We gave a kid a pair of athletic shoes because the ones she was wearing didn't fit. Come Monday, kid wearing her old shoes. When questioned, her mom took them from her. Principal called mom even though guidance counselor asked her not to. Mom denied it and said kid lost them. After that the pair we bought her to replace them had to stay at school. Mom had the nerve to bitch about that. Loved to have taken that phone call.

[MarleyKeezy78]

Zib, that make me so sad and so angry! My DH is a teacher and one year he had a girl in his class that missed a day of school and the next day her note said to please excuse her absence because her only pair of shoes (they could only afford the one pair) had gotten wet the day before (DH took the class outside for class and the grass was wet) DH felt so bad he bought a gift card to target, gave it to the girl and told her he didn't want her to miss class because her shoes were wet after having a class outside. The mom called DH and cried and thanked him for caring. I was happy with the outcome on that incident.  Taking things away from your child to make a buck is so enraging to me!!! You are supposed to provide for the life you brought forth not act like a goddamn jackwagon!!!   Stealing from your own child... Grumble, grumble... SMDH

[cronewitch]

We had family who would return gifts for refunds. People bought clothing for little boys, dad on workers comp since before oldest was born, mom won't work because she likes being home. We then would make sure to remove all tags and mark the child's name inside with a laundry marker. My elderly great aunt was on welfare and if someone would buy her a blouse she would claim it didn't fit and return it for money. This was in the 60s so I heard after her bills were paid she had $7 a month for spending, a blouse was about $5 so she doubled her spending money for the month almost.

[zibazinski]

Well, you don't have to be a welfare mom to steal from your own kids. Hence the thread of the young man who "came out" and was thrown out. I'm okay with if that's how you feel but to steal the kids money to boot? That's just bogus.

[Deleted]

Nov 10, 2013 19:39:14 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Well, you don't have to be a welfare mom to steal from your own kids. Hence the thread of the young man who "came out" and was thrown out. I'm okay with if that's how you feel but to steal the kids money to boot? That's just bogus.

Which thread was that?

[Waffle]

Nov 11, 2013 14:22:49 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Nov 10, 2013 19:39:14 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Well, you don't have to be a welfare mom to steal from your own kids. Hence the thread of the young man who "came out" and was thrown out. I'm okay with if that's how you feel but to steal the kids money to boot? That's just bogus.

Which thread was that?

Link to thread

It was a few days ago.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2013 15:16:08 GMT -5 Waffle said:

Nov 11, 2013 14:22:49 GMT -5 @gin1984 said:

Which thread was that?

Link to thread

It was a few days ago.

Thanks!

[sesfw]

We are having a community wide Thanksgiving Service the Sunday before the holiday and the planning association decided to receive donations for the downtown homeless shelters.  A call was place for their greatest need. ......... Toilet paper.

So that is the suggested donation.

A couple of months ago I helped serve 200 dinners at a temporary women's shelter downtown and the one thing that really stood out to me was ....... every one of those ladies and children said 'Thank you'.  This is an emergency shelter while finding more permanent solutions.  What a blessing for me to hear thank you.

[tcu2003]

Nov 9, 2013 15:54:24 GMT -5 Sam_2.0 said:

Oh my goodness. Perusing pinterest for ideas on the homeless kits, I ran across these: www.thethriftinessmiss.com/2012/04/1st-project-night-night-complete.html Night-Night bags for kids on their first night in foster care. I think DD and I need to find out where these can be donated and make up some. I think we should also include a glow-stick for a bit of added night-time comfort.

Love this idea. And Sam, there are a couple of shelters in your area (I sent that info on to my sister as we were just talking about how she wanted something to do with my niece that would help her learn to give back). And I found one near me - I'm totally going to see if my mom's group wants to do this. And I love that we can do it in the spring, when they won't be getting as much stuff as they are now due to the holidays.

[Sam_2.0]

Nov 12, 2013 11:32:57 GMT -5 sesfw said:

We are having a community wide Thanksgiving Service the Sunday before the holiday and the planning association decided to receive donations for the downtown homeless shelters.  A call was place for their greatest need. ......... Toilet paper.

So that is the suggested donation.

A couple of months ago I helped serve 200 dinners at a temporary women's shelter downtown and the one thing that really stood out to me was ....... every one of those ladies and children said 'Thank you'.  This is an emergency shelter while finding more permanent solutions.  What a blessing for me to hear thank you.

That has always been my experience too. Every now & then you get someone on a bad day, but who hasn't had a bad day before?