Free Food | Imamother

amother

OP ↓

Yesterday at 6:48 pm

Curious what others think, not sure if there’s necessarily a right answer:
If someone posts on a community chat that they are giving away free food and you are not badly struggling but could definitely put it to use, would you reach out to claim it or save it for someone needier? I personally have never felt comfortable claiming basics that I am anyway accounting for in my budget, like eggs and fruit, but I have claimed things that I consider a treat and wouldn’t normally buy, like a pie of pizza or frozen chicken nuggets. At the same time, when I post that I’m giving something away, I don’t assume that the person who claims it is necessarily needy, and I am perfectly fine with that. What do you all think? Would love to hear from both the giving and the taking perspectives!

amother

Amaryllis

Yesterday at 6:51 pm

Depends where/what.. everyone (almost) can use a little help and I think things listed are usually for anyone.

amother

Rose

Yesterday at 6:54 pm

It doesn't matter if you are struggling or not. If you could use it and it will not go to waste, then you could take it. The point is that the food should not go to the garbage.

amother

Celeste

Yesterday at 7:01 pm

If you’re going to use it you can take it. Some people have an illness with hoarding food and I wouldn’t want my food to go there but you can usually pick up on this in these giveaway chats.

amother

Tangerine

Yesterday at 7:03 pm

Sometimes I reply that I would take it if no one else wants it.

Because yes it would be good if it wasn't thrown out, but also if someone who NEEDS it could use it I don't want to take it from them.

amother

Eggplant

Yesterday at 7:05 pm

I think it’s fine, people want to rescue it so it’s not garbage. In my community we have a food pantry which I believe anyone who wants access to can have access to, I would like to hope, but I might be naive, that while people might not have what they want, and they might benefit from additional resources for all sorts of things, that nobody is actually hungry.

amother

Cream

Yesterday at 7:06 pm

When I post I would hope that it goes to someone who will appreciate it. I'm not looking to give charity to the neediest person and really anybody who will use it can take it. But it's nice when it goes to someone who it helps a little. In some ways it's nice when it goes to people who could use some help but get nothing.

That means I would want you to take it.

amother

Birch

Yesterday at 7:07 pm

On giveaway chats I give and take from there.
If you are comfortable then wait to see if it will be taken by someone else.
But if you couldn't afford it easily, take it!
Don't hoard or take to resell. Some people claim anything they can get- it can be a sickness- unless you are that in need please save some for others.

SYA

Yesterday at 7:08 pm

You never know someone’s financial situation. Many are struggling and are trying to hide it. Getting free food from giveaways can be a big help for them.

amother

Maple

Yesterday at 7:10 pm

When I post about food, I only care about it not going to waste, not whether the person needs it or not. That's their business.

amother

↑ OP

Yesterday at 7:12 pm

amother Cream wrote:

This really resonates. Thank you!

lavendar310

Yesterday at 7:15 pm

It's the same as someone giving away anything I think. Unless they say for the poor I would think it's of course fine to take I want people to use it if they need, not just if they're starving without it usually also I want someone to TAKE it out of my house. I'm not checking their tax returns I just want someone to benefit from the thing I don't want anymore

seeker

Yesterday at 8:15 pm

In my community it seems like (I can't know for sure but it sure seems like) the neediest people are getting assistance from multiple sources. A lot of the free food giveaway posts actually look like they're coming from organizations in the first place (I don't know if it's Tomchei Shabbos or what, but when 5 people on the same day post the same combination of a bunch of bananas, a package of rolls, and a bag of beans, half of which displayed in a brown cardboard box, you go hmmm.) As someone who bh doesn't qualify as needy but often feels the burn of stretching to make ends meet, I don't feel bad accepting an offer that would be helpful to me. But I also won't answer multiple offers one after another so things can get around to other people.