AAUW-Humboldt May Meeting Spotlights Food for People
Press release from AAUW-Humboldt:
Anne Holcomb
Anne Holcomb, Executive Director of Food for People, addressed AAUW-Humboldt’s final meeting of the year. Food for People fills a vital community need in Humboldt County, providing access to healthy and nutritious foods through 18 different programs, each of which is designed to address the needs of those who are experiencing hunger and food insecurity. These include Backpacks for Kids, Children’s Summer Lunch, Senior Brown Bag and Homebound Delivery Program, and Food Pantries across the county. Anne shared updates on the nonprofit’s Rebuild Project, which is finally underway and will add important cold storage to enable county-wide reductions in food waste. She also talked about the increasing needs for Food for People’s services, especially given the economic challenges so many households are now facing with rising inflation and the ending of several pandemic-driven support programs. AAUW members were very interested in the many volunteer opportunities available and the capital campaign needs. Food for People can always use donations of time and money. You can find out more at www.foodforpeople.org and learn about the Humboldt AAUW chapter at humboldt-ca.aauw.net.
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I used to be a huge supporter of Food for People. I know they are trying to help low income families, which is a noble thing to do. Unfortunately, I will no longer support them. The reason is simple. They are enabling deadbeats. If there was a work verification requirement, it would be one thing. I, however cannot support a no questions asked approach. Humboldt County has “Help Wanted” signs all over the place, yet people would rather demand “entitlements” than work. The transient population should not be allowed to destroy everything they touch and be rewarded by free anything. Until this enabling completely stops, my support is withdrawn.
The majority of people who utilize Food for People are just ordinary working folk, trying make ends meet. That and kids (through the backpacks for kids program) and seniors on fixed incomes.
I just wish they would focus on healthier foods, omitting the cheap packages of hot dogs, questionable cans of “beef stew,” and the other highly processed foods. They taste bad and they do more harm than good.
In an ideal world “healthier foods” would be ideal. I know you are not condemning food banks as they do provide food that people will eat. I enjoy a good stuffed green pepper and have eaten baked squash but I also enjoy a quick can of chilli with onions and cheese over a hot dog in a bun or a good plate of pasta.
I will continue to donate to food banks although I cannot glean apples for them anymore.
Seth, I enjoy those same easy-to-prepare meals too. But the hotdogs have been the cheapest pork/chicken ones that are two years beyond their “best buy” date. They’ve been kept frozen, so they’re safe to eat but they aren’t good. Some months there’s been two packages of these plus other processed meat like Spam. Processed meats are one of the worst, health wise. It’s sad that people who struggle to afford good food are given these unhealthy foods. It’s sad.
I preferred it when we would get plain canned beans, pasta, canned fruit without high-fructose corn syrup, etc. They still regularly have rice, milk, eggs, and cheese in the monthly food box, but nearly half the other stuff is either way way past its date, chemical laden, or just plain nasty tasting unfortunately! I don’t know why they persist in purchasing some of the items, and I wonder if they ever actually try them. (I’m not referring to donations of food by individuals but to the ongoing stuff they procure in large quantities. )
But, beggars can’t be choosers. And I do appreciate Food for People overall. : )
🙂 Yes, I didn’t mean I disagreed with your post. Spam. Arrghhh. That and C rations ham and lima beans are two exclusions from my diet, hopefully forevermore.
I agree 100% Alf!! There needs to be accountability in all our social programs no matter how small. Would be great to get some able body folks that are benefiting from support programs to do some community work…painting curbs, picking up trash, sweeping sidewalks, painting park benches, etc.
Getting something for nothing only enables the “entitled” crowd more. There is much that can be done in and around our communities that would improve the aesthetics greatly.
I am not sure you grasp the concept of Food For People volunteers, it’s Board of Directors and who participates both on the giving and receiving end. What “Social Program” are you objecting too?
Food for People is designated as the official food bank for Humboldt County. Food for People, Inc is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. EIN 94-2772549.
I volunteered with Food For People for two years. Now then:
1. They DO NOT have the legal authority to place work requirements or the like on clients. Their operations are highly regulated by federal and state agencies and statutes. Their operations are also routinely audited by federal and state agencies.
2. Excluding the food donated by local persons and organizations, the food distributed by Food For People comes from the large food bank in Santa Rosa which redistributes food received from the federal government. Food For People has VERY LITTLE say in the food they receive.
Having dealt with about 2,000 clients over two years of volunteering, I was very surprised at how many seemingly normal but down on their luck people show up for food.
To be hungry and have to go somewhere to get food to live is highly humilating to most people.
I suggest all local people volunteer with Food For People for a few months. In the process, you will likely be disabused of a chunk of your ignorance and arrogance. You will also likely find yourself newly grateful for all the safety and good in your life.
I ran city wide food drives in Humboldt for 10 years where many tons of food was donated. I have participated in cleanups for over a decade. I worked at Social Services for 15 years. In all of that, I learned that there is a toxic attitude of entitlement everywhere. I witnessed huge numbers of Food for People recipients who chose not to work much if at all because between Food for People, Free meal and Calfresh there was absolutely no incentive. That’s why I can no longer support this.
$40 billion being thrown away on Ukraine while American mothers have to struggle to find baby formula? Come on, man!
https://babylonbee.com/news/starving-american-babies-sneak-into-ukraine-in-hopes-of-receiving-federal-aid
“being thown away”? Hardly.
The likes of Boeing , General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman, and Raytheon are benefitting greatly by catching the “thrown away” funds.
There’s lots of formula at the border
Why do the poor revere the rich? Because they know the essence of bio power! My understanding is this is another deceptive “woke” organization provocation whose purpose is to drain the precious bodily fluids of legacy Americans. Put them to work in the fields! The Bible says (2 Thessalonians 3:10), “if you din’t work, you don’t eat.” Mass rally tomorrow at Sundial Bridge!