Need major food help

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 10:12 AM

Need food help… I had an very very bad month with unexpected bills. I now can’t food shop until 4/7 and since I shop weekly, this is going to be tough. Luckily I have some stockpile BUT does anyone know of any food help agencies in my area? I make too much for food stamps and I tried angel food ministries near me, and ended up with moldy veggies and having to toss dinners I made from the nasty meats. Plus I was substituted TONS of hot dogs in place of ground beef etc… and we don’t eat hot dogs. Anyone know of any other agencies like angel food ministries in the NJ area?

**M55FF** · 03-13-2008, 10:23 AM

Most of the food banks are not going to have prime meat and fresh veggies or cakes.
Why don't you look in your local phone book and start calling around locally for a food bank.

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by M55FF

Most of the food banks are not going to have prime meat and fresh veggies or cakes.
Why don't you look in your local phone book and start calling around locally for a food bank.

I never really expected top line of meat or fresh veggies but to pay the $25 and receive a box full of hotdogs and a bag of soft carrots and molded onions was not my idea of even being edible (except the hot dogs of course)

**FreesiaE** · 03-13-2008, 10:33 AM

Hi, I don't know where you live or your financial situation but you may want to check out CAP (Community Assistance Pantry) --you do not need a direct referral from an agency but can qualify directly with them I believe.

http://www.njfoodbank.org/Southern_B...rograms.htm#FP

I also wanted to add the link to the prescreen for the state of NJ for food stamps. It will give you and idea if you qualify.
http://www.njhelps.org/

**jamie79** · 03-13-2008, 10:34 AM

Try your local churches and see if they can help. Also if you post what you have on hand maybe we can help with some ideas

**M55FF** · 03-13-2008, 10:34 AM

I volunteered for awhile though the church to work free at one of the local food banks ( I'm not in new jersey) where we had a list of items and would fill
bags with the items. I never recall having fresh fruit and veggies to stock.... and only occasioanlly some cakes but none of them were fresh.
Canned veggies and fruit, yes.........
fresh.. no.. at least not here.
Just letting you know so your expectations of the type and qulaity of food you are given free... aren't high.

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by M55FF

I volunteered for awhile though the church to work free at one of the local food banks ( I'm not in new jersey) where we had a list of items and would fill
bags with the items. I never recall having fresh fruit and veggies to stock.... and only occasioanlly some cakes but none of them were fresh.
Canned veggies and fruit, yes.........
fresh.. no.. at least not here.
Just letting you know so your expectations of the type and qulaity of food you are given free... aren't high.

Oh no I understand that about the food pantry not having fresh fruits and veggies but canned which is fine. I was talking bout the box I spent $25 on from the Angel Food Ministries where I got the rotten veggies. I wouldn't expect to get fresh from the food pantry. Thanks for the info though!

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by FreesiaE

Hi, I don't know where you live or your financial situation but you may want to check out CAP (Community Assistance Pantry) --you do not need a direct referral from an agency but can qualify directly with them I believe.

http://www.njfoodbank.org/Southern_B...rograms.htm#FP

I also wanted to add the link to the prescreen for the state of NJ for food stamps. It will give you and idea if you qualify.
http://www.njhelps.org/

Thanks for the links, unfortunately I am way from qualifying for the Food stamps. I made $20,000 LESS last year and they wouldn't qualify me because I was $6 over the limit. Normally I have no problems paying my bills but unfortunately, this month I had $600 in unexpected bills and I had to pay. I usually survive just fine off of $50/week for food (for me, BF, DD and 2 cats and 1 dog).

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 03-13-2008, 10:57 AM

Give your Salvation Army a call. They may be able to give you a voucher for your local grocery store and with that you can pick out what your family likes.
Understand fully your disapponitment in Angel Food. We stopped using them after several bad boxes.

Laurie in Bradenton

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 11:04 AM

Thanks everyone for the advice! I'm going to try making the calls and such. Greatly appreciated!

**suki** · 03-13-2008, 11:11 AM

Izzy, sorry you had a bad experience with Angel Food. That's not been my experience here at all. They don't even include fresh veggies in our selections. You might consider giving it another try... or maybe it's just your area.

Also, if you have a little money... beans, rice, pasta!

**napswithkats** · 03-13-2008, 11:12 AM

Also try:

http://www.secondharverst.org

Click on "Find a Food Bank"

A couple came up for my area that I didn't know about.

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 11:15 AM

thanks all! I think it may be my area. My relatives in PA use it and love it but I had friends go different months then me with the same problems.

**sunshine** · 03-13-2008, 11:22 AM

What foods do you have on hand? How many meals do you need to make? Post of list of what you have and we'll help you make a menu plan.

**Izzy0906** · 03-13-2008, 11:28 AM

I have plenty of dinners. I also have plenty for breakfast. Lunches are tough and also snacks for my daughter for school. I have (this is aside for what I'm going to need for dinners the next 3 weeks) rice, flour, sugar, yeast, baking supplies, dried pinto beans (never used these before but willing), laughing cow cheese, frozen peaches, frozen mixed veggies (BF & DD HATE so won't use for dinners) and some vegetable soup mix. These are for lunches for me (DBF east Oddles of Noodles and I have those). I also have soy milk and plenty of Smart Balance spread. Have a few eggs but not many at all. I'm willing to bake so any ideas, recipes, would be great. If I can get my lunches out of thise for the next few weeks and some snacks for my daughter for school (she has juice boxes, got them on sale) that would be GREAT!