“Shamed” for Thanksgiving contribution to school

[Anonymous]

I’ll ask - what sort of food bank or school asks for a perishable item like cream cheese?

[Anonymous]

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.

It doesn't really sound like they need our donations. What organization is this, PP?

Most don't. But the "dance" is important. Those that donate want (sometimes need?) to feel that rush that they are helping and doing good while and non-profits provide them the opportunity to do so hoping the next time monetary donations will be part of the equation. Money is always king.

[Anonymous]

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.

100% would do the same. The last thing we need is people like that at the front desk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People in need don’t look at the brand. The shitty comment makes me think there’s people in need to steal from contributors. The same happens with clothes. I stopped donating after the school demanded brand new clothes for “people in need”. I call it corruption and dishonesty.

That’s a bit different. You aren’t giving used food to people. Sounds like you were using the school drive as a Goodwill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People in need don’t look at the brand. The shitty comment makes me think there’s people in need to steal from contributors. The same happens with clothes. I stopped donating after the school demanded brand new clothes for “people in need”. I call it corruption and dishonesty.

That’s a bit different. You aren’t giving used food to people. Sounds like you were using the school drive as a Goodwill.

How could she, when they specified only new clothing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ll ask - what sort of food bank or school asks for a perishable item like cream cheese?

Food banks do give out some perishable items, especially in things like Thanksgiving baskets.

[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.

It doesn't really sound like they need our donations. What organization is this, PP?

Most don't. But the "dance" is important. Those that donate want (sometimes need?) to feel that rush that they are helping and doing good while and non-profits provide them the opportunity to do so hoping the next time monetary donations will be part of the equation. Money is always king.

Lol. Ohhhh, I didn’t realize that food pantries and soup kitchens existed solely to feed my ego. Thanks for the info, Weirdly Bitter Volunteer Lady!

[Anonymous]

Meh. Bigger picture, you’re not participating for her validation so whatever. It shouldn’t bother you this much. Think of the people that you’re helping.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:WTH kind of a dumb comment is that? Cream cheese is the same regardless. People that buy "name brand" of most things are just dumb, and I'm guessing that this person falls into that category.

Definitely next time say "excuse me?" and lift an eyebrow. Practice it in the mirror, if you do it right it will wilt most people.

There are few things funnier than ignorant comments that are come after an attempt to call others dumb, lol. No, every generic item is not "the same regardless".

The person was very rude though OP, what poor behavior.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ll ask - what sort of food bank or school asks for a perishable item like cream cheese?

Food banks do give out some perishable items, especially in things like Thanksgiving baskets.

I was surprised by this too. I hope it’s kept properly refrigerated.

[Anonymous]

People usually donated the cheapest variation things possible, for food, clothing, or whatever. This is pretty well known and expected. So someone pointed it out to you..big deal. I wouldn’t care. She is acknowledging the obviously not shaming you.

[Anonymous]

Next time, donate Belgium chocolate and saffron

[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.

It doesn't really sound like they need our donations. What organization is this, PP?

I'm not going to specify the church, but it's true of any food pantry that is serving a significant part of the community. And you are absolutely correct that they really don't need your donations. I'm not saying don't do it, whatever is donated gets distributed and added to the top of the standard boxes. So if PP brings in 20 boxes of $0.20 Target macaroni and cheese, then 20 boxes will get one of those thrown on top. Cool.

If you're looking for the workers to be super grateful that you're bringing a few boxes of mac and cheese, you're asking a lot. I agree that commenting on whether something is generic is bullsh1t, though.

I get it; I've noticed over the years that Goodwill workers tend to act like they're doing me a favor when they take all the crap from my SUV on Decluttering Saturdays. But the truth is, they are. Most of it's headed to the landfill, anyway. Nobody actually needs all this used clothes.

Yup, can concur. The workplace food drives, Larla bringing in her great deal on cereal, etc. It's more about the giver getting to feel good, and having good photo ops for social media around the holidays. It's definitely less about fulfilling community needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It doesn't really sound like they need our donations. What organization is this, PP?

I'm not going to specify the church, but it's true of any food pantry that is serving a significant part of the community. And you are absolutely correct that they really don't need your donations. I'm not saying don't do it, whatever is donated gets distributed and added to the top of the standard boxes. So if PP brings in 20 boxes of $0.20 Target macaroni and cheese, then 20 boxes will get one of those thrown on top. Cool.

If you're looking for the workers to be super grateful that you're bringing a few boxes of mac and cheese, you're asking a lot. I agree that commenting on whether something is generic is bullsh1t, though.

I get it; I've noticed over the years that Goodwill workers tend to act like they're doing me a favor when they take all the crap from my SUV on Decluttering Saturdays. But the truth is, they are. Most of it's headed to the landfill, anyway. Nobody actually needs all this used clothes.

Yup, can concur. The workplace food drives, Larla bringing in her great deal on cereal, etc. It's more about the giver getting to feel good, and having good photo ops for social media around the holidays. It's definitely less about fulfilling community needs.

You two PPs should spearhead the effort to disallow food being donated to food pantries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

It doesn't really sound like they need our donations. What organization is this, PP?

Most don't. But the "dance" is important. Those that donate want (sometimes need?) to feel that rush that they are helping and doing good while and non-profits provide them the opportunity to do so hoping the next time monetary donations will be part of the equation. Money is always king.

Lol. Ohhhh, I didn’t realize that food pantries and soup kitchens existed solely to feed my ego. Thanks for the info, Weirdly Bitter Volunteer Lady!

PP. You may not like or understand the comments (she didn't say "soup kitchens" exist to feed anyone's ego) but there is a grain of truth.