So, I spoke to people getting food at a food bank and here are some things I learned from those in need:
1. Everyone donates Kraft Mac and Cheese in the box. They can rarely use it because it needs milk and butter which is hard to get from regular food banks.
2. Boxed milk is a treasure, as kids need it for cereal which they also get a lot of.
3. Everyone donates pasta sauce and spaghetti noodles.
4. They cannot eat all the awesome canned veggies and soup unless you put a can opener in too or buy pop tops.
5. Oil is a luxury but needed for Rice a-Roni which they also get a lot of.
6. Spices or salt and pepper would be a real Christmas gift.
7. Tea bags and coffee make them feel like you care.
8. Sugar and flour are treats.
9. They fawn over fresh produce donated by farmers and grocery stores.
10. Seeds are cool in Spring and Summer because growing can be easy for some.
11. They rarely get fresh meat.
12. Tuna and crackers make a good lunch.
13. Hamburger Helper goes nowhere without ground beef.
14. They get lots of peanut butter and jelly but usually not sandwich bread.
15. Butter or margarine is nice too.
16. Eggs are a real commodity.
17. Cake mix and frosting makes it possible to make a child’s birthday cake.
18. Dishwashing detergent is very expensive and is always appreciated.
19. Feminine hygiene products are a luxury and women will cry over that.
20. Everyone loves Stove Top Stuffing.
In all the years I have donated food at the Holidays, I bought what I thought they wanted, but have never asked. I am glad I did. If you are helping a Family this Christmas, maybe this can help you tailor it more. It does for me!
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Ted Murphy is a resident of East Palestine, Ohio.
Ted lives right near the fallout site and moved his mother immediately after the derailment, but before the explosion.
Sunday after the derailment, he came back to her insulin and encountered the chemical fallout. His skin later became red "like he had fell asleep on Myrtle Beach all day" and his lymph nodes became sore.
"I inhaled that air and I thought I was going to frickin' die. I almost wrecked my fri**in' truck," Ted said. "The road looked like a wet ribbon."
"I'm not moving back into my house. I just got done doing all that work on the inside of it."
"I just bought all new appliances, new furniture, new beds. I made my mom a brand new home. Now I gotta leave. It ain't right."
"The creek is dead. You go and step on rocks now and there's oil that comes out around the rocks."
"Dead newts. Dead lizards. Dead salamanders. Dead fish. Dead snakes. Dead frogs. Everything in that creek is dead."
"I gotta find somewhere to live!" Ted added.
"I'm not worried about money. I'm worried about my health. I'm worried about all my nieces and nephews health."
"I want to be here long enough to see my grandson grow. That's about the most important thing in my life."
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