I recall years ago, I actually went along with some charity to distribute food in S.F. near the Mayor's office. This was the first, and only time, I would do so. It wasn't a good experience. I remember being given instructions on how the distribution would work, as the vehicles where parked, then as a table was setup, and the operation started. I could not even believe what I started seeing. They would take the plate of food, taste it, these were druggies, drunks, as well as younger punk types who were bums and all, and would THROW the plate down on the ground as if the food wasn't good enough. It got much worse. I decided to leave on my own. We were being threatened as well. I heard only two "thank you(s)". It all comes down to moral values of these in the community on the receiving end. Really, that is what it comes down to. Sure, there was some good done, but over all, it was a scary experience. Scary, man.
Brian: I think I know the food distribution that you are referring to. Wasn't that when the Symbionese Liberation Front was holding Patty Hearst hostage and they demanded that her father donate about $40,000 worth of food to the poor? They went through a series of those demands, and then they never released her. And then she joined their group. I think there were at least two of those food drop offs and they both turned into near riots. I had moved from the Bay Area at the time, but I was following the case closely in the newspaper and on TV.