New twist on food assistance

[Opti]

Aug 26, 2015 15:40:27 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

::Poverty sucks. I don't quite know why *some* people (not calling out folks here! Just reflecting on the world in general) are so quick to judge how other cope and live their lives (i.e, buy junk food) when they have never been faced with what that person deals with on an hourly and daily basis. Try opening a can of food when you have no can opener, no cooking vessel to heat the food and no heat source. ::

I think most don't care how people live their lives...right up until you decide you're going to spend my money...then I care.  How you spend my money today affects how much of my money you're going to end up taking tomorrow.

Hoops, do you post as often about what soldiers eat, wear, etc.?

The military eats up more of your dollars than poor people programs.

[kittensaver]

Aug 26, 2015 18:31:36 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Aug 26, 2015 7:56:28 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I see nothing wrong with it as long as those in need are not being preached to about religion.  Offer help regardless of the person in need's spiritual beliefs.

What your church is doing is much like those who instead of giving a panhandler money for food and walks on, they take the panhandler to a fast food joint and buy a meal for both of them and enjoy it together.

I might recommend to your pastor the volunteers get a little traing in food nutrition and smart shopping (the food on shelves at eye level usually costs more than the food on lower levels (for example)) to pass along to those they help.

Why should they not be "preached to about religion"?  They are asking for help from a church.  So, if they want to "preach" to you, that is their prerogative.  If you don't like it, then get your help elsewhere.  

If they are asking for social service help from a church that has a local, state or federal contract for services funded by taxpayers that are required to be delivered in a non-sectarian, "religion-free" manner then yes - they should not be "preached to about religion." The laws are VERY clear that churches and other faith-based organizations ARE allowed to complete for and provide government social services BUT they must do it in a religion-free manner. It is also helpful to remember that in some smaller communities, there IS NO HELP ELSEWHERE. In small communities there is usually only one service contract that is awarded. Folks in those communities do NOT have a choice of where to go. Just sayin' . . .

If it is private, non-government, church money funding the social service - have at it.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 26, 2015 18:31:36 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Aug 26, 2015 7:56:28 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I see nothing wrong with it as long as those in need are not being preached to about religion.  Offer help regardless of the person in need's spiritual beliefs.

What your church is doing is much like those who instead of giving a panhandler money for food and walks on, they take the panhandler to a fast food joint and buy a meal for both of them and enjoy it together.

I might recommend to your pastor the volunteers get a little traing in food nutrition and smart shopping (the food on shelves at eye level usually costs more than the food on lower levels (for example)) to pass along to those they help.

Why should they not be "preached to about religion"?  They are asking for help from a church.  So, if they want to "preach" to you, that is their prerogative.  If you don't like it, then get your help elsewhere.  

Charity with a hook is not charity.

[Shooby]

Then dont' take it.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 26, 2015 19:25:41 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Then dont' take it.

How Christ-like of you.

[zibazinski]

People who get handouts believe in handouts. Those who don't don't.

[Artemis Windsong]

Perhaps the shopping chaperons have a shopping list for those in need of assistance.

The Mormon Church has a relief society that oversees their help of the needy.  My long ago former babysitter was the relief society leader for several years.  Then she was on the receiving end.

Our church gets lots of requests.  There are several organizations that provide free community meals that they are directed to and two food pantries close by.

When the church is gathering food items for homeless teens, the request is for easily opened foods that can be eaten cold.

I had some pretty lean times and still take a step back on a lot of purchases that aren't needed. 

[Shooby]

Aug 26, 2015 19:32:00 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 26, 2015 19:25:41 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Then dont' take it.

How Christ-like of you.

Funny but I recall Christ doing a lot of preaching.  Saying things like "Go and sin No More".  I think i would call that preaching.  And, if you get a handout and the church hands you a flyer or prays over you or pronounces a blessing or preaches at you, that is part of their mission.  Sorry, but you don't get to tell the Church how they may evangalize.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 27, 2015 6:12:28 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Aug 26, 2015 19:32:00 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

How Christ-like of you.

Funny but I recall Christ doing a lot of preaching.  Saying things like "Go and sin No More".  I think i would call that preaching.  And, if you get a handout and the church hands you a flyer or prays over you or pronounces a blessing or preaches at you, that is part of their mission.  Sorry, but you don't get to tell the Church how they may evangalize.

I don't recall Jesus holding a loaf of bread in front of a starving woman and him saying 'I will give you this bread if you go and sin no more'.

You are such a Betty Bowers.

[cronewitch]

I hate that almost all charities are in churches. There aren't many places to volunteer at food banks etc that aren't in churches. Our local one is Salvation Army and the town I am trying to find ways to help is a coalition of churches. I think I found one but doesn't know if it is related to religion but they are housing for homeless transitional. If they are religious I won't volunteer or donate.

Churches have ever right to turn away anyone who isn't one of them or to preach at them before feeding them but we should have something in place for everyone else.

[kittensaver]

Aug 27, 2015 6:38:40 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 27, 2015 6:12:28 GMT -5 Shooby said:

Funny but I recall Christ doing a lot of preaching.  Saying things like "Go and sin No More".  I think i would call that preaching.  And, if you get a handout and the church hands you a flyer or prays over you or pronounces a blessing or preaches at you, that is part of their mission.  Sorry, but you don't get to tell the Church how they may evangalize.

I don't recall Jesus holding a loaf of bread in front of a starving woman and him saying 'I will give you this bread if you go and sin no more'.

You are such a Betty Bowers.

Omg Tennesseer - - EXACTLY!

[kittensaver]

Aug 27, 2015 6:44:05 GMT -5 cronewitch said:

I hate that almost all charities are in churches. There aren't many places to volunteer at food banks etc that aren't in churches. Our local one is Salvation Army and the town I am trying to find ways to help is a coalition of churches. I think I found one but doesn't know if it is related to religion but they are housing for homeless transitional. If they are religious I won't volunteer or donate.

Churches have ever right to turn away anyone who isn't one of them or to preach at them before feeding them but we should have something in place for everyone else.

I think the problem is that in some places - particularly smaller communities - churches ARE the only place where social services can reasonably be located; there IS no one else. Government regulations permit "faith-based organizations" to bid for and provide government funded-social services. But they also have very strict rules that forbid any religious preaching or teaching as a condition of receiving services. They must act in a neutral, even-handed manner when providing services, as would any non-religious organization.

So the system is supposedly already in place to serve everyone without having to endure a religious component. The problem is - many (but of course not all) religious organization ignore these rules   ETA:and a LOT of people in need are unaware of these rules - so they just duck and live with it. To me, it truly smacks of taking advantage of someone who doesn't known their rights (the right to receive taxpayer services coersion-free).

[hoops902]

Aug 26, 2015 18:44:49 GMT -5 Opti said:

Aug 26, 2015 15:40:27 GMT -5 hoops902 said:

::Poverty sucks. I don't quite know why *some* people (not calling out folks here! Just reflecting on the world in general) are so quick to judge how other cope and live their lives (i.e, buy junk food) when they have never been faced with what that person deals with on an hourly and daily basis. Try opening a can of food when you have no can opener, no cooking vessel to heat the food and no heat source. ::

I think most don't care how people live their lives...right up until you decide you're going to spend my money...then I care.  How you spend my money today affects how much of my money you're going to end up taking tomorrow.

Hoops, do you post as often about what soldiers eat, wear, etc.?

The military eats up more of your dollars than poor people programs.

On every single thread that is started about what soldiers eat and wear.

Though the difference is they're WORKING, they are actually doing something...as opposed to just taking handouts from people who work.

[The Captain]

If we continue to bring in Churches and Religion I will have to move this to the religious discussions forum.

Just putting everyone on alert.

The Captain - Mod.