Too few Latinos visiting food pantries

Reflejos | Daily Herald Voice for Suburban Latinos ^ | 3/19/2006 | Elena Ferrarin

[spintreebob]

Harvest of help: Study shows too few Latinos visiting food pantries
Estudio demuestra que pocos latinos visitan las despensas.

(excerpts) Although there are myriad food pantries in Chicago and the suburbs, not enough Latinos take home the free food (that the pantries) offer, according to a 2006 America's Second Harvest study.

Last year the Chicago network of almost 600 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters served almost 500,000 people, but only about 14 percent of them were Latinos, according to GCFD spokesman Bob Dolgan.

In the collar counties the situation is similar - only 13.2 percent of its 187,500 yearly clients are Latinos, said Northern Illinois Food Bank Executive Director Dennis Smith. The network has a network of 521 food pantries, soup kitchens and group homes.

We are very much aware that there are many more folks out there who are inneed of help." Smith said.

What's stopping many Latinos from frequenting food pantries is the fear that if they are illegally in the United States, they will be reported to immigration. . . . "

We just want to get the word out that we are here to help, and of course we always need help too," Smith said.

[spintreebob]

On average the city locations serve less than 2.3 people per day. Suburban locations less than 1 person per day. I've seen these white liberals at these food pantries wait all day for someone to come in and need their services. The white liberals need to be needed more than the needy need the help, it seems. Can you imagine the efficiency of a for-profit business that couldn't attract more than a couple customers per day?

(They count each visit as a separate "person" although it is mostly the same few junkies going to 3 or 4 pantries in the same day, every day so they can sell the food on the street.)

In my vast experience with both these white liberals and the Latinos, the illegals ARE NOT AFRAID of being reported to immigration . . . and certainly not afraid of the white liberals reporting them. The immigrants are just plain too proud to take something for free from non-family. (See movie Spanglish that is so true of them.)

These same white liberals want to bring back Msgr Geno Baroni's HUD under Jimmy Carter to provide affordable housing for the poor, especially Hispanics, even though Jimmy Carter's high interest rates made more housing unaffordable to the poor than any other president ever.

Now under Bush, the poor (including poor illegals) have the highest rate of home ownership... and with conventional mortgages with no government help than ever in history. The facts drive the white liberals crazy and into denial.

[.cnI redruM]

I was thinking, as I read this, that maybe, just maybe, it could be because these people take jobs.

[Tax-chick]

We are very much aware that there are many more folks out there who are inneed of help." Smith said.

And how are "we" aware of this? Because of all the emaciated bodies of starvation victims found on the streets every morning?

Earth to Planet Zongo ... if the people needed food, they'd come and get it. They're obviously getting food from some other source.

[righttackle44]

"ATTENTION! ATTENTION IN THE HOUSE! THIS IS THE POLICE.
COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP! IT'S TIME FOR YOUR WEEKLY
VISIT TO THE FOOD BANK. IF YOU NOT COMPLY, WE HAVE
INSTRUCTIONS TO SHOOT TO KILL!"

[spintreebob]

Although only 14% of those seeking a FREE LUNCH, Latinos are probably 35% of the "POOR" for whom the free lunch is well intended.

Also note the English headline editorializes "too few" while the Spanish headline just says "pocos" and not "tan pocos". The headline writer is aware that the editorializing is for the hip white liberals who read this bilingual paper to stay hip, and not intended for the Spanish language readers who would be insulted and react negatively to the implications of such a headline. The Spanish press in Chicagoland is much more competitive than the English language press.

Also note they capitalize Latinos in English, but not in Spanish. In Spanish Latinos, Atzlan, etc do not carry the same level of distinction to be capitalized as do words like Mexican and American do.

[Obadiah]

To their credit, perhaps they believe in supporting yourself and your family. Perhaps they do not have a culture of entitlment, one that expects things to be handed to them because we somehow owe them something.

[starbase]

I'm not a huge Limbaugh fan, but I heard he said that liberals measure compassion by how many people are on welfare, and conservatives measure compassion by how many people don't need it.

Assuming these people not coming to the pantries are not illegal Hispanics, then it sounds like this is an area that's ready to vote conservative!

[Lokibob]

The Senior Citizen Center in this community has a monthly surplus cheese day. they apparently get the cheese from the USDA and give it away, instead of letting it mold.

My friend says "You better get over to the center, Bob, its FREE CHEESE".

I don't go, not because I'm too proud (although I guess that is part of it), but because I might be taking it from somebody who might really need it.

OTOH, I'd hate to see it go to waste. My Mom taught me never to throw away food. (There are starving kids in China).

Who knows what is right. GAD, I don't......Bob

[n230099]

This is the same mentality displayed by the people running the welfare plantation when they have to go on T.V. to remind everyone that the food stamp program has plenty of stamps left.

[jackbenimble]

Or maybe it is because they still know how to cook basic foods. You can get things like rice, beans, flour in 50 lb bags for for about $5 each. And I've noticed that the Walmart Superstore carries a lot of low end meat products like beef cheeks, and various offal that native born Americas don't have much use for at very low prices. It takes very little money to each a healthy diet with that kind of food.

[Tulane]

Agree 100%...the liberals can't figure out why on earth
someone would want to work and not take free handouts...

[Stand Watch Listen]

The immigrants are just plain too proud to take something for free from non-family.

Hmmmm...yet the welfare rolls, the emergency rooms (for non emergency medical treatment) are full of illegal/legal immigrants. Not to mention the free schooling (by way of non payment of municipal/state taxes by illegal immigrants. Seems to me that many immigrants are surely not too proud to 'take' these services.

[starbase]

Who knows what is right. GAD, I don't......Bob

Have some of the cheese Lokibob, it's the surplus of our bulging bounty. Maybe just go once a month or so, that way everyone can have a chance at some. If people don't get the cheese, they'll get one of the other endless surplus items like bread and pasta.

Enjoy the cheese, you're right, you shouldn't let it waste. And remember our poor people are the fattest in the world, they don't need the cheese every time, you should enjoy some of it too!

[6SJ7]

The white liberals need to be needed more than the needy need the help, it seems.

Not only that, Liberals get a sense of superiority by 'helping' those they see as less able than themselves. They enjoy seeing people grovel.

[Little Ray]

Whatever issues I might have with illegals, most of 'em work hard and provide themselves and their families. They don't the food banks.

[cardinal4]

Perhaps Latinos are out working, and dont need the aid. Perhaps, too, they are tired of being lumped in with those that do. Say what you want about the Latino invasion, I deplore it too, but at least they work. Look at the Muslim immigration in Europe, they immigrate and immediatley go on welfare. The Latinos dont use it as much..

[beaversmom]

What's stopping many Latinos from frequenting food pantries is the fear that if they are illegally in the United States, they will be reported to immigration. . . . "

That's a laugh.

[MineralMan]

The free cheese makes really good grilled cheese sandwiches. Otherwise, it's pretty bland and tasteless. I haven't eaten any of it for years, but I used to have an elderly neighbor who got it, but disliked it, so she gave it to me.

[adorno]

"tan pocos"

The correct transalation, int the context of the sentence, would be "muy pocos". Otherwise, I agree with your post.

[YOUGOTIT]

"I was thinking, as I read this, that maybe, just maybe, it could be because these people take jobs."

But the left does not want these people to take jobs. As long as they are dependent on the government they can but their votes.

I say if you get free welfare then you should me required to work for it. But that will never happen just look at the people from NO who will not even try to get a job as they want their free welfare checks and food stamps. No work NO FOOD. Communism has no place in a free society. If they are poor then they made that decision to be poor. Sorry but we already pay billions for education, including college and there is NO reason except for ones own decision process that they are poor (except for health or disability).

Get a job.