Have you ever asked for assistance to avoid hunger?

[Liberal_in_LA]

Poll question: Have you ever asked for assistance to avoid hunger?

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/18/hungry.kids/index.html

More U.S. families struggling to feed children, report says
36.2 million children, adults didn't have proper food in 2007

11.9 million people ate low-cost or less varied food, Agriculture report says

In Alaska and Iowa, 3.7 percent more families struggled to eat adequately

Florida and Hawaii both saw 4 percent decrease in families struggling to eat

CNN) -- Almost 700,000 U.S. children lived in households that struggled to put food on the table at some point in 2007, the highest number since 1998, according to a federal report.

Families with the highest rates of hunger were headed by single mothers, says the U.S. Agriculture Department.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual report on food security showed that those 691,000 children lived in homes where families had to eat non-balanced meals and low-cost food, or even skip meals because of a lack of money. The number of children struggling to feed themselves adequately rose 50 percent from 430,000 children in 2006.

Nearly 36.2 million children and adults struggled to put proper food on the table in 2007, according to the report, up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006.

Of the 36.2 million, nearly a third were not able to eat what was deemed a proper meal.

The other two-thirds -- 11.9 million people -- changed their eating habits by eating low-cost foods, participated in federal food and nutrition assistance programs, ate less varied diets or obtained emergency food from pantries or emergency kitchens, according to the report. That number is up more than 40 percent since 2000.

[elleng]

1. As a VISTA Volunteer

in 1975 (?)

edit: 'Stipend' was such that aid was necessary; had to pay rent, after all.

[sandnsea]

2. It's possible to go hungry

and use various forms of assistance, at different points in time. Even all during the same time frame, actually. But it isn't like you run out of food for a week, and then everything works out and there's never another problem again.

[snot]

3. i was raised not to expect help. so instead,

i ate cheap carbs, saved them in plastic bags saved from cheap bread, etc.

i was in my teens; it was ok.

But people who have worked hard for 50 years shdn't have to rely on that in their retirement.

[Tom Kitten]

4. I'm 52 and have worked for years

and I've paid my share of taxes....I would love to be working right now, contributing to society...unfortunately I got laid off a year ago and I did not apply for food stamps until my savings were almost gone...At least I am not hungry but tomorrow I go see my financial advisor in order to cash in on my retirement fund, in order to have cash so I can at least pay my rent...

[Egnever]

5. Ugh

I will hate GWB forever for shit like this.

[Tom Kitten]

6. I know what you mean

I always said "I hated him" and now I know why. He set out from the beginning to destroy our country and he's damn near succeeded. Him and his "rapture" loving buddies. May they all burn in hell, in a compassionate conservative way of course! By that I mean let them burn slowly...Let them find the wherewithal to utter "turn me over...this side's done" like all the martyrs they claim for influence...

[Divine Discontent]

8. may things change for all of us... this is so unfortunate to hear, I'm sorry, may we all remember,

and this is regardless if you're an atheist, believer in God being there, or agnostic - I realize billions of humans have lived far less simple and troubled lives than I have, and done with very little and gotten by.

This doesn't mean that I don't hope for one day to have everyone having a roof over their heads and food, especially since we have hope again in this country thanks to the people who normally don't vote coming out and voting in record numbers this time, it's just I realize that I can be homeless at any point, and it's terrifying, but it's also comforting to know if it happens I know there will be some people who will pull over and help me like I've helped homeless people before. I pray to God that I'm never without a roof over my head, I don't care how in disrepair it is, just as long as I have a roof and the ability to work for sustenance. The unfortunate part is, if we really do have a depression, there's not going to be many people in a position to help.

may your retirement not be used up early, Tom! I cannot wait for George Dubya B*sh to get the hell outta dodge, there's a village in Texas that's missing its idiot - he needs to get back home so we can get a recovery on the road NOW! Resign now George, pleaseeeee!

Many different Yes We Did items in the Obama/Biden section www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable

[Tom Kitten]

11. thank you for your caring reply

Yes I sound bitter and with good reason I suppose! But I will never let go of hope it's just that I never expected to be where I am today. I know multitudes of people are worse off than I am but when insecurity hangs over me I have to think of my own well being and that preys heavily upon me, but if I see someone who needs help I will not hesistate to help in any way I can...Still!

[Divine Discontent]

20. .

:hug:

[MrSlayer]

7. I never wanted for anything but the extravagant.

Certainly not for food and basic necessities. My dad worked his balls off for us to have Disney vacations and the latest video game cartridge. (Remember those?) But he also donated his time and money to many charitable organizations and still does to this day. And I have followed suit, I always make sure to share when my fortune is good. My wife will share even when it is not. Hell, even my Republican brother sponsors a few kids in Africa. I've had a good life so far.

[Divine Discontent]

9. thank you for doing all you've done, and your wonderful sounding family!

I'd take you in to Disney if I could (I'm cast), and yes, I remember game catridges - we were too poor to have anything but the stuff that was a couple years old, but our middle class friends never were anything but inviting in allowing us to play with them.

[MrSlayer]

10. You're cast?

Awesome! If you don't mind my asking, where do you work? We're Disney fanatics in my house and would love to hear even the most mundane details.

[Divine Discontent]

19. I'm in entertainment.

I work directly with the 'boss' (Mickey) and the Princesses and Chip & Dale (my fave, although I love Mickey). I'm their attendant, the one who monitors what's going on with them, and when they need to get a piece of cheese!

If you want to hear a little magic, write me sometime.

[midnight]

12. I have always thought that welfare for corporations is and

should be discouraged. Assisting family's is and should always be a priority. I know many in the last twenty years have adopted the pull yourself up by your own bootstrap mentality when it comes to individuals struggling. Somehow though, those same people look for over the top handouts via tax cuts, and bailouts.

[Marrah_G]

13. Yes- I've had to go on food stamps a few times to feed my children

WIC provided formula, milk, eggs, peanutbetter, and cereal when they were infants.

[gollygee]

14. Does this include when we were children?

When my parents went on strike, we needed food stamps.

OH wait I have had issues of my own as an adult, many years ago. I lived on potatoes for a while because that's about all I could afford.

[Le Taz Hot]

15. Went hungry.

I have a pride problem -- bad, bad memories of being put into situations where *I* had to do the begging for Mummy Dearest and "stepdad"-of-the-hour. :shudder:

[Ganja Ninja]

16. I had to go on welfare for about 6 months.

Oddly enough during Ronald Reagan's first term. Hard to believe since he was such an economic miracle worker.
:sarcasm:

[greguganus]

17. I sold pecans from my trees to help buy food. n/t

[michreject]

18. never had the need nt

[kineneb]

21. on food stamps

or more correctly "EBT". We cashed out all our savings and retirement funds to qualify Hubby for medical care. He could only get Medicaid once he was declared disabled, right before he went on dialysis. He died in March. I got the house, but no insurance or funds to support myself; working was and is out of the question. I could go on with the saga, but won't. So I now qualify for food stamps and subsidized healthcare, but nothing else.

[CraftyGal]

22. When I was a single parent, I had to get help from welfare.

For a single parent of 1, the maximum amount was $750.00, rent was $595.00/month and electricity was $60.00 for a total of $655.00 which left me $95.00 for transit (look for work), food and other sundries. I got my $200.000 child tax credit on the 20th of every month and 2 weeks early for Christmas, not that we could afford Christmas.

How I got by was the food bank (could only be used once a month), some help from the local LDS church, subsidized hot lunch program (the school also had a morning snack program) and family and friends.

At one point I was working 3 jobs, all minimum wage, to equal 40 hrs/week. The ridiculous thing was that I was still being subsidized by welfare because I wasn't making enough. There was one time when I was able to work due to losing my voice. I worked 2 call centres and a craft store (no longer in existence). To work the call centres I needed my voice and to deal with customers I needed my voice. I called the financial aid worker and she asked what did you do with the money we gave you? I received a whole $54.00 from welfare. How it works is that you work and submit your payslips for the previous month, they calculate what they owe you and you use that for the following month. I had been to my dr every week to get a letter saying I still was able to work. That should have cost $20.00 per note however I have a good doctor. The school was very supportive. I used the last of my minutes (pre paid cell) to call the school because we had slept in. I had no electricity at that point. I explained to the school that we were running late and he would be there as soon as I could figure out breakfast for him. I walked in to the school and the principal said lets talk and I broke down in his office. I just could deal with it anymore.

He got on the phone with my local MLA who started the process rolling. It took 3 months for the appeal (apparently that is fast)and I was still worried about losing the apartment and everything else. The upside was that once my MLA was involved, they backed down. I was on a medical leave of absence until I was told I could go back to work. I lost both call centre jobs, however I was able to retain the craft store position. I ended up working there almost full time and was very disappointed when it got closed down.

CraftyGal