“Shamed” for Thanksgiving contribution to school

[Anonymous]

I remember living paycheck-to-paycheck in my first job out of college. I went to pick an Angel Tree child for Christmas to help an impoverished child. “12 year-old: would like Apple air pods“. Sorry ma‘am, I’m too broke for the broke I guess.

[Anonymous]

That's insane. Why she opened her mouth and that came out is ridiculous. Like who is she? The name brand police?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We volunteer regularly at a food pantry that our church runs.

99% of the food that's going out is provided by the Dept. of Agriculture through their various sourcing contracts and various federal benefit programs.

The people who are picking up mac and cheese on sale, or scouring weekly circulars for a few boxes of brand name cereal, or the local Cub Scout troop doing their annual gathering ... great. That stuff gets thrown into whatever boxes are being packed at the moment. Sure, it helps. But don't get bent out of shape about it, either way.

You sound almost disdainful of people who go out of their way to buy and donate food to those who need it. I guess if the Department of Agriculture is providing what you need, you can stop soliciting donations from the general public.

We don't solicit donations from the general public. But we get them routinely. Some people like dropping random groceries off. Scout troops like doing canned food drives.

This comment is rediculous. I get mail constantly from food banks asking for donations. And my 2 cents, cream cheese is cream cheese generic is fine.

[Anonymous]

I personally would have not bought store brand, but she was rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I personally would have not bought store brand, but she was rude.

Just to explain, I don’t buy myself store brand cc, so I’m not going to buy it for anyone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She shouldn’t have told you straight to your face, but as an occasional recipient of food boxes I always appreciate when I get something by well known brands. First, it’s more consistent, and second, I feel like the person didn’t think of me as less than. I am sure you got what you usually get for yourself, and I would never ever say anything but just so you know, it does matter. Of course it doesn’t mean you should immediately change your ways.

Not op, but as somebody who buys generic name brands for my own family, I don’t understand how or why you would think you were less than because you receive generic. I think you need to free yourself from that mentality. (And before anybody says it’s a privilege thing, I grew up poor, on farms and everything that entailed. ).

One thing you are right about: I had no idea how many people buy generic for themselves
It does taste differently to me
- PP you were replying to

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She shouldn’t have told you straight to your face, but as an occasional recipient of food boxes I always appreciate when I get something by well known brands. First, it’s more consistent, and second, I feel like the person didn’t think of me as less than. I am sure you got what you usually get for yourself, and I would never ever say anything but just so you know, it does matter. Of course it doesn’t mean you should immediately change your ways.

You are less than. You're receiving free food from someone who paid for it and gave it to you because you couldn't afford to buy it yourself. Are we supposed to pretend you're equals? You're not. Nothing wrong with that -- I've been there myself -- but it is what it is.

Yeah but don’t expect me to be grateful for your genetic stuff eh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She shouldn’t have told you straight to your face, but as an occasional recipient of food boxes I always appreciate when I get something by well known brands. First, it’s more consistent, and second, I feel like the person didn’t think of me as less than. I am sure you got what you usually get for yourself, and I would never ever say anything but just so you know, it does matter. Of course it doesn’t mean you should immediately change your ways.

You are less than. You're receiving free food from someone who paid for it and gave it to you because you couldn't afford to buy it yourself. Are we supposed to pretend you're equals? You're not. Nothing wrong with that -- I've been there myself -- but it is what it is.

You might just win yourself a unanimous DCUM opinion in solidarity of what a foul, sub-human being you are. How utterly vile.

Nobody is "less than" based on their ability to buy food today, this week, this month, or this year. The tables can turn with a quickness, honey. Keep that in your small mind, poisoned with privilege as it may be.

Wow. And you are less than for being nasty as hell. I already said I've been on the receiving end and also on the giving end. Being on the giving end is much better. Sorry but when you are in need of free food, don't pretend you're equals with the people providing it.

So do you donate generic or not? That’s what we want to know

[Anonymous]

Occasional recipient PP here. I must say for bank recipients aren’t as hungry as some people think they are. Bad food is cheap and abundant in the US, which is good because no one is hungry but also bad because having a lot of cheap low quality food is not really great for nutrition or development or happiness.
So yeah most poor people just can’t afford nice things. They do have cheap earbuds, cheap canned food, and cheap cream cheese. Eggs, butter, and milk are ok generic I guess.
It’s just the truth, you don’t have to donate if you don’t like that your cheap stuff isn’t appreciated.
Sorry if this sounds ungrateful, it was not my intention. I am actually very grateful for SNAP where you can buy whatever you need and not whatever is given to you

[Anonymous]

My goodness this is for the needy. Why on earth didn’t you just get a brand name cream cheese? How much could you have saved?? probably less than a dollar!

[Anonymous]

I just bought 6 generic cream cheeses, from ALDI no less, to use in a thanksgiving desert. My family member hosting thanksgiving would be appalled that it's not Horizon. Oh well!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did this really happen? I can’t imagine someone saying that. If they did, I would probably explain that they mispronounced “thank you” and then shoot an email to their superior about it.

Yes, really happened. The front desk person has long been the discussion of lack of tact. Which is ironic considering her job.

Public in VA.

I truly cannot wrap my head around an admin at a public school shaming someone for donating a generic brand. Imagine being someone on a limited income, but still agreeing to donate, and then getting hit with a shitty comment like that. You should seriously complain to the higher ups about it.

I guarantee the staff at my kid's home elementary in Va would have sniffed and glared at the giver. It's really not about the cheese. It's about exerting power over others whichever way you can manage. Very pathetic if you stop to think about it. Nobody taught that idiot any manners and she feels so bad about herself she has to make others feel bad about a stupid generic cheese?

[Anonymous]

I think I’ll be donating food outside of the local DC area, outside of the country where people really do need my help. I shop generic and try to be frugal. I guess the snap and government benefits is all they need, and they do not need donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD’s school has partnered with a local food bank to create Thanksgiving boxes of food for family’s in the neighborhood in need. The food bank sends a very specific list and each family can volunteer to bring a specific item. Our family signed up for cream cheese. I dropped them off at the school this morning at the front desk - as requested - and the front desk administrator opened the bag and goes “oh you bought generic?” Then sighed.

I use store brand cream cheese and honestly bought the same for this as for me. I just said, “yes, I like this brand” and smiled.

Did I break some code? Are you supposed to buy name brand for these things?

Maybe the front desk administrator gets first pick and was disappointed that she would not be getting name brand cream cheese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She shouldn’t have told you straight to your face, but as an occasional recipient of food boxes I always appreciate when I get something by well known brands. First, it’s more consistent, and second, I feel like the person didn’t think of me as less than. I am sure you got what you usually get for yourself, and I would never ever say anything but just so you know, it does matter. Of course it doesn’t mean you should immediately change your ways.

You are less than. You're receiving free food from someone who paid for it and gave it to you because you couldn't afford to buy it yourself. Are we supposed to pretend you're equals? You're not. Nothing wrong with that -- I've been there myself -- but it is what it is.

Yeah but don’t expect me to be grateful for your genetic stuff eh

Ugh. So ungrateful. You need to work on that. Your attitude is the reason so many don't want to donate to the poor.