Is this a particularly uneducated take on food insecurity/poverty?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not punish the FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE because the people running the program are a**holes or used the wrong tone or whatever, am side eyeing every single person who wrote that.

The FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE can benefit from OTHER ORGANIZATIONS that I would be donating to instead of the a**hole one. I'm side eyeing you right back for thinking that it's ok to treat people who are GIVING YOU THINGS like garbage.

Please stick to charity galas. If you are so offended by that letter then you need to stick to organizations where you’re probably fawned over and worshipped.

I appreciate this comment. My take on the email was that it was direct and informative, and likely written by someone who doesn’t have either an UMC professional background or a communications team. It seriously blows my mind that so many people are reacting to it as though it was insulting on a deeply personal level.

Your take is that being rude and unhelpful is necessary and effective? That's a poor take. It blows my mind that this is how your mind works. Do you have to communicate with people in your line of work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not punish the FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE because the people running the program are a**holes or used the wrong tone or whatever, am side eyeing every single person who wrote that.

The FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE can benefit from OTHER ORGANIZATIONS that I would be donating to instead of the a**hole one. I'm side eyeing you right back for thinking that it's ok to treat people who are GIVING YOU THINGS like garbage.

Please stick to charity galas. If you are so offended by that letter then you need to stick to organizations where you’re probably fawned over and worshipped.

I appreciate this comment. My take on the email was that it was direct and informative, and likely written by someone who doesn’t have either an UMC professional background or a communications team. It seriously blows my mind that so many people are reacting to it as though it was insulting on a deeply personal level.

Your take is that being rude and unhelpful is necessary and effective? That's a poor take. It blows my mind that this is how your mind works. Do you have to communicate with people in your line of work?

No, my take is that the email was straightforward, and not designed by or for upper middle class people whose fee-fees are easily primed to be insulted when their pantry clearing efforts aren’t met with praise. Do you ever get out of your insulated environment where everyone is highly educated and has access to a communications team?

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I volunteer and donate to my local food bank. They recently sent us a somewhat terse letter telling us donors that we need to do better on fresh/frozen goods. A part of the letter read, "Your donations of hamburger helper and cake mix are useless without the items necessary to complete these dishes such as ground beef, oil and eggs. Additionally, we get lots of cake mix donations, but not many tubs of icing. This can mean the difference of a child having a birthday cake or not."

So separate of the issue of the food bank chastising donors, my question is about those who use the food from the food bank. If you can't afford food, and you get several bags weekly of food, is it unfair to think that they *can* afford to buy pantry items like oil or packaged frosting? I get that food is wildly expensive and for those in poverty, it can be prohibitively expensive to grocery shop... but seriously?

I'm asking here because I have been making a conscious effort to check my privilege. What say you on this issue?

WTF is wrong with you? Yes, your "take" is ignorant and grossly lacking in empathy. You seem resentful for people getting free food? Check that attitude or find another place to give. Or are you one of those that begrudges poor people for asking for expensive Christmas gifts on those giving trees? How DARE the poor have desires like the rest of us!?! That's how you come off and it's gross.

And while I'm at it. If you're going to donate, donate things that can be used fully. I've participated in food drives and so forth and the things people offload (expired items, items like "pie filling") and other sh-- they're just getting rid of is absurd. Give thoughtfully. Otherwise you deserve the talking to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not really sure what your question is. I’m sure that any donations that you make will be appreciated. I’m also sure that it will be appreciated even more if someone doesn’t have to spend money for expensive and possibly unhealthy food (cheap oil or margarine for example) in order to make the donated food work. I’m not sure what you mean by “fair”. Limited income means painful decisions. Buying diapers and toilet paper and paying rent might mean that butter and oil are burdensome expenses, especially the week that the rent is due.

You have no idea what people have or don’t have. It would be kind to assume that people have nothing, and to package your donations accordingly if you can, especially if you’re donating the least expensive part of a dish that requires other ingredients. I might get tuna helper — since I could also include a can of tuna. If I donate cake mix or cereal, I might also donate shelf stable milk.

You yourself note that food is wildly expensive. If butter costs $ 4-6, and eggs cost $4, then the cake mix that costs $2 -3 can turn a treat into an expensive burden plus icing. So I guess my suggestion is to be as thoughtful as you can when making donations that require other ingredients— especially when the ingredients are expensive relative to the donation.


tldr: Wonderful that you’re donating! Try to do so in a thoughtful way, if and as you can.

Did you read OP's post? The food pantry told her (and everyone else on their email list) that not only are her donations not appreciated, but they are in fact "useless."

The donations are not supposed to be for OP and his/her feelings. It's supposed be for ppl who need it. So, BFD if she was told that if, in fact, they are useless. Grow up, OP. Get a thicker skin. And donate in a way that is useful or move on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are placing your feelings -which whatever, get over it- over the act of giving. Which is presumably why you participate in the first place? Or maybe not if you're that delicate over being told that your donations can't be used.

Big babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would not punish the FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE because the people running the program are a**holes or used the wrong tone or whatever, am side eyeing every single person who wrote that.

The FOOD INSECURE PEOPLE can benefit from OTHER ORGANIZATIONS that I would be donating to instead of the a**hole one. I'm side eyeing you right back for thinking that it's ok to treat people who are GIVING YOU THINGS like garbage.

Please stick to charity galas. If you are so offended by that letter then you need to stick to organizations where you’re probably fawned over and worshipped.

I appreciate this comment. My take on the email was that it was direct and informative, and likely written by someone who doesn’t have either an UMC professional background or a communications team. It seriously blows my mind that so many people are reacting to it as though it was insulting on a deeply personal level.

X a million. They're the MILs giving money with strings that so many of them dislike. Grow up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are placing your feelings -which whatever, get over it- over the act of giving. Which is presumably why you participate in the first place? Or maybe not if you're that delicate over being told that your donations can't be used.

Big babies.

Meh. There are so many places clamoring for donations. Too many actually, if one place can't get their act together and run smoothly there are many more out there. The poorly run and managed ones should go under and let the better ones fill the void. There isn't a lack of charities, there is a lack of donations and people should realize that.
Would be better if this was streamlined anyway rather than a patchwork of badly organized groups and incompetent people working at them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, that letter is rude and tone deaf. If I'd received such a letter, I'd respond and let them know that, and I would strongly consider donating elsewhere. I'm happy to donate whatever is needed by a food bank; it greatly helps when they're explicit about what they need. Need perishable items? Sure, just let me know. But there's a polite way to do this that doesn't risk alienating donors or would-be donors.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are placing your feelings -which whatever, get over it- over the act of giving. Which is presumably why you participate in the first place? Or maybe not if you're that delicate over being told that your donations can't be used.

Big babies.

To those of you saying things like this: shame on you.
You are saying that people who are GIVING-which is something they don't have to do- deserve to be treated like garbage. Which is presumably something you must do otherwise you wouldn't feel the need to comment like this. Does it make you feel better to call people, who are GIVING out of the goodness of their heart, names?

Sack of garbage.

[Anonymous]

I think the cake kits are a good idea. There are plenty of things that you can substitute for eggs and/or oil. Bananas and applesauce for example, which I've personally received at various food pantries.

[Anonymous]

donate money only, that is the best way to help a food bank as they can buy in bulk and get what they need and for a lot less money.

[Anonymous]

Geez...this would really put me off on this charity. Should've tried something like this...


Dear Donors,

Thank you for your continued support of our organization. Your generosity of both time and resources is making a huge impact in our community.

From time to time, we take stock of what is on our shelves and evaluate items of particular need. While we are so grateful for all donations, we would particularly appreciate the below:

- Ground beef (perfect to make Hamburger Helper, a favorite of our recipients!)
- Tubs of icing (we love to hand out cake mix and icing to make birthdays special)
- etc. etc.

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts for your support!

- Charity Director