Feeding the Hungry

I'm fairly new to the area and I would like to know how to go about finding a reputable food pantry to donate to. If you donate cans of food you can feel pretty certain that it will be given away. I would prefer to donate money (rather than cans of food) but I want to feel certain that the money will be used wisely.

(In my case it's Merrimack, but I'm sure others would like to know.)

ANN

The Community Kitchen is an amazing place! Not only do they provide much needed food for families, but they also have clothing, educational classes for children and adults and most importantly a caring and thorough staff. Many of us would not survive without their kindness and generosity. They create a safe, family environment.

The show touched on the fact that large stores chains have computerized inventory control systems, and this results in stores having less excess to donate. (A caller also said large chains were afraid of liability, which makes sense.) I worked for IBM for years and I watched this happen - from the very early days of CVS, in my case. This use of inventory control systems has made massive changes in our society - Home Depot, Walmart, Albertson's, CVS, etc. squeezing out local businesses as they reduce prices and keep their shelves stocked reliably and just right. This is not someone's fault, but it is something that HAS HAPPENED. If this change were RECOGNIZED and PUBLICIZED by policy makers in government, then I think it could JUSTIFY measures to COMPENSATE for the unintended effects on the poor (esp. their nutrition). For instance, governments could tax grocery chains to obtain funds for helping the poor.

Although I have to admit, the creative ideas and energies of the food banks etc. were exciting to hear about and perhaps in the long run local efforts are better than government "programs". So, perhaps a simpler measure might be to just make everyone aware of how these computerized systems are moving resources from the poor to the rich - e.g. I pay cheap prices at Shaw's or Hannaford's and receive some of the profits through my investments. That's unfair, and I need to move that money back where it belongs. But I have no ideas how much money that is. If someone were to prove to me that I gain, say, $800 a year from the poor in this very indirect way, then I feel I should send an annual check for that $800 to agencies that help the working poor.

May I suggest the other MOST important
thing to ask of Americans is,next fall when
you are getting ready to vote... ask those 2 candidates
what will YOU do to eradicate POVERTY in AMERICA.

The great hidden secret in this nation.

If you don't talk about it ... its not there
From: the Great POOR North Woods