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Is a Food Bank in Your Future?
The newly poor are swelling the lines at food banks nationwide. For many this is a horrible event very traumatic, the first period of unemployment, food stamps and self-doubt.
Newcomers may benefit from reading what feelings they might encounter in their first visits.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/nyregion/20food.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1
From you veterans of the social welfare scene, I would appreciate your comments about your experiences. I'm sure they will be a great help to the newcomers.
My only bout with the system occurred in 1990 when I returned from Israel to care for my 83-year-old mother disabled by a stroke. I was a broken lowlife without much to give.
The welfare office made me feel worse. From my appearance and vocabulary, the social worker knew I didn't belong there and I agreed with her. I was unaware of food stamps until my voucher arrived in the mail. It was weeks before I discovered they would pay my dental bills.
The food stamps introduced me to generic food and to the joys of unprocessed food and raw vegetables.
The food bank across the river at Catholic Charities made me feel like a cheat. The Sisters were great, but their clients were so much needier than I that I stopped going there.
I am sure that some of you have more interesting stories than mine and I hope you will share them with us.
