My district is big on donating to our Hospitality House. One of my schools this month is changing the focus so it is a common item each month of necessities. Last month may have been condiments and peanut butter. It gives so many joy to share when they have enough to those who do not. This month is cereal. Since I rarely buy it, I was a bit surprised of the price. I will certainly add to this month as what kids like is very expensive per box.
The price of cereal is insane. My husband likes Raisin Bran, but it was getting to be over $6/box. I picked up the store brand on sale for $1.99. He complained at first then I explained that name brand is triple the price, and suddenly preferred the store brand.
When I visited my father last month in a small town in the Smokey Mountains where shoppers have few food choices, I saw a box of the same name brand cereal for nearly $9.00! Safe to say, we didn't bother with cereal on that trip.
We never have quite enough to get us through the month. I only get a small amount in food stamps, and that doesn't last long. I've chosen to pay only the absolutely necessary bills for the time being. If/when i can pay my other bills, I will, but my credit tanked over the past year with all the health issues I've had. It's not worth the stress to try to keep up right now. Keeping us sheltered and fed is the focus for now.
My secret is ... I hoard art supplies. Not like, I just have a lot of them. I hoard them. But, I also end up giving a lot of really nice stuff away every few months. So, it all works out. 😄
I'm sorry about your situation. It sounds much like what happened when I was a kid. Food stamps never bought enough food for the month. Did you find it easier when the government was giving something like $600/month to parents, if you received it? I really think every parent should receive support if they earn below a certain level. No child should have to worry about survival.
I’m so glad you wrote this, so many people are needing help. My favorite food store here, puts bags of food together, you buy as many bags as you want, then the food bank picks them up.
Because you’ve written this, you’ve made a difference already.
Thank you. If you want, you can share it so others can also be motivated to help. You could use it to help make others aware of the need that exists in our community.
My current husband - as my father referred to him - grew up poor, the second of four children.
He does most of the grocery shopping and absolutely hoards food. Our pantry and laundry room cupboards are loaded with soup and tuna and beans and canned tomatoes and weird stuff like little corn cobs and tins of oysters. The oysters are for me, but I am not sure I need 12 tins of them.
And because he had to wear hand me downs that didn't fit, forcing him to go to school in what our generation insultingly referred to as "flood pants", he hoards clothes as well. He has four closets in the house devoted to his apparel which he buys in bulk. "These T-shirts were only five bucks each so I bought six of them!" He promises he will donate six of his existing cache of 200 or so t-shirts to make up for it, but doesn't. Frustrates the hell out of me that we have to find space for SEVEN motorcycle helmets, fifty pairs of Size 14 shoes, and 28 size 3XL overcoats.
But is it simply that he didn't have enough when he was little? Apparently not. I think Barbara Joe is right - it is genetic. Following his aunt's death, her house was condemned by the fire department and it took multiple dumpsters to get it ready for sale.
While he made sure his children had everything they need and more by working as a full time firefighter and driving airport limos part time when they were growing up, one of his children - his daughter - who I love as much as my own - also hoards foodstuff and clothing. Her kitchen looks like a convenience store and she has converted one of her bedrooms into a walk in closet, full of bargain basement clothing that she will likely never wear.
I don't get it, but I love them both dearly, regardless.
I wonder at the genetic element. Nature vs nurture. I used to be a bit of a clothes hoarder too when I worked outside the home. I had so many gorgeous suits for the office with shoes to match each one. I've since donated all of that to the local thrift store that supplies clothes to women in the DV shelter. I hope they can wear the suits while looking for employment.
Yesterday, I engaged in the Midwestern ritual of packing away my summer clothes and bringing out my winter clothes, and I filled a trash bag with things to donate to the same thrift store. I'm slowly weeding out the amount of stuff I put in my one closet. All the other closets in the house are filled with my husband's comic book collection. It takes up a lot of space.
I wonder how many folks shared similar experiences? I admire how Tim Walz speaks about the MN leadership decisions to feed kids at school breakfast and lunch. I admire Taylor Swift and her massive Food Bank donations.
Food insecurity is a major issue facing so many families, but I think a lot of people don't talk about it. My controversial position is that all children should get free lunch and breakfast at school without having to worry about means testing. Then the kids who do need it won't be singled out for getting the free lunch.
My district is big on donating to our Hospitality House. One of my schools this month is changing the focus so it is a common item each month of necessities. Last month may have been condiments and peanut butter. It gives so many joy to share when they have enough to those who do not. This month is cereal. Since I rarely buy it, I was a bit surprised of the price. I will certainly add to this month as what kids like is very expensive per box.
The price of cereal is insane. My husband likes Raisin Bran, but it was getting to be over $6/box. I picked up the store brand on sale for $1.99. He complained at first then I explained that name brand is triple the price, and suddenly preferred the store brand.
When I visited my father last month in a small town in the Smokey Mountains where shoppers have few food choices, I saw a box of the same name brand cereal for nearly $9.00! Safe to say, we didn't bother with cereal on that trip.
We never have quite enough to get us through the month. I only get a small amount in food stamps, and that doesn't last long. I've chosen to pay only the absolutely necessary bills for the time being. If/when i can pay my other bills, I will, but my credit tanked over the past year with all the health issues I've had. It's not worth the stress to try to keep up right now. Keeping us sheltered and fed is the focus for now.
My secret is ... I hoard art supplies. Not like, I just have a lot of them. I hoard them. But, I also end up giving a lot of really nice stuff away every few months. So, it all works out. 😄
I'm sorry about your situation. It sounds much like what happened when I was a kid. Food stamps never bought enough food for the month. Did you find it easier when the government was giving something like $600/month to parents, if you received it? I really think every parent should receive support if they earn below a certain level. No child should have to worry about survival.
I’m so glad you wrote this, so many people are needing help. My favorite food store here, puts bags of food together, you buy as many bags as you want, then the food bank picks them up.
Because you’ve written this, you’ve made a difference already.
Thank you. If you want, you can share it so others can also be motivated to help. You could use it to help make others aware of the need that exists in our community.
My current husband - as my father referred to him - grew up poor, the second of four children.
He does most of the grocery shopping and absolutely hoards food. Our pantry and laundry room cupboards are loaded with soup and tuna and beans and canned tomatoes and weird stuff like little corn cobs and tins of oysters. The oysters are for me, but I am not sure I need 12 tins of them.
And because he had to wear hand me downs that didn't fit, forcing him to go to school in what our generation insultingly referred to as "flood pants", he hoards clothes as well. He has four closets in the house devoted to his apparel which he buys in bulk. "These T-shirts were only five bucks each so I bought six of them!" He promises he will donate six of his existing cache of 200 or so t-shirts to make up for it, but doesn't. Frustrates the hell out of me that we have to find space for SEVEN motorcycle helmets, fifty pairs of Size 14 shoes, and 28 size 3XL overcoats.
But is it simply that he didn't have enough when he was little? Apparently not. I think Barbara Joe is right - it is genetic. Following his aunt's death, her house was condemned by the fire department and it took multiple dumpsters to get it ready for sale.
While he made sure his children had everything they need and more by working as a full time firefighter and driving airport limos part time when they were growing up, one of his children - his daughter - who I love as much as my own - also hoards foodstuff and clothing. Her kitchen looks like a convenience store and she has converted one of her bedrooms into a walk in closet, full of bargain basement clothing that she will likely never wear.
I don't get it, but I love them both dearly, regardless.
I wonder at the genetic element. Nature vs nurture. I used to be a bit of a clothes hoarder too when I worked outside the home. I had so many gorgeous suits for the office with shoes to match each one. I've since donated all of that to the local thrift store that supplies clothes to women in the DV shelter. I hope they can wear the suits while looking for employment.
Yesterday, I engaged in the Midwestern ritual of packing away my summer clothes and bringing out my winter clothes, and I filled a trash bag with things to donate to the same thrift store. I'm slowly weeding out the amount of stuff I put in my one closet. All the other closets in the house are filled with my husband's comic book collection. It takes up a lot of space.
I wonder how many folks shared similar experiences? I admire how Tim Walz speaks about the MN leadership decisions to feed kids at school breakfast and lunch. I admire Taylor Swift and her massive Food Bank donations.
Food insecurity is a major issue facing so many families, but I think a lot of people don't talk about it. My controversial position is that all children should get free lunch and breakfast at school without having to worry about means testing. Then the kids who do need it won't be singled out for getting the free lunch.
You inspire me to give a donation to the food bank in Boston! Thank you for sharing such an honest reflection🩷
Wonderful news! I can only hope that many others do the same.
Your dad is a food hoarder as well for similar reasons.
Yes, I thought about that as I was writing this. Maybe it's genetic.