[upchuck]

I really find this amazing. A city the size of Houston probably has hundreds of soup kitchens and food banks that could help these folks.

[upchuck]

Let me add to my previous reply...

Of course some of these folks buy the high end stuff (best steaks, etc.) because they'll resell the merchandise in their neighborhood for cash.

Example (sorta):

A concerned citizen called police Sept. 23 after seeing a man dumping new bottles of water on the ground near a local store with a goal of returning the bottles to get money to buy cigarettes. Officer Rick Roberts spoke with the man, who advised he had bought the water with his food stamps and was dumping the water out so he could recycle the bottles to get cigarette money.

Link.

[Winstons Julia]

Remember all the stories about the food banks not keeping up?

Here’s what happens: They get their cards and they make deals for cash. Then they hit up the food banks, too.

[achilles2000]

They get too much “help” already. Many of them need to be deported (does anyone still think that only those here legally get “benefits”?)

[JoanneSD]

I agree with you, in my city of Chula Vista ca.. there is so much free food, I cannot store it all.. thankfully... I am a senior on my fixed income, and it is amazing how many places have free food for the taking.. on Fridays alone I can go to 5 places, and pick up all the fresh fruits and vegetables I can use..bakery items are in abundance from these speciality bakeries that charge 4.99 for a loaf of bread, cheese and milk are plentiful.. occasionally meat is as well especially tuna and canned chicken breasts, whole chickens, pork patties, sliced ham. u name it.. but u have to go and get it..

[SuziQ]

A city the size of Houston probably has hundreds of soup kitchens and food banks that could help these folks.

I'm sure there are enough Churches and Christian organizations in the city to make sure that NO one, especially babies and little children, go hungry.

[gogogodzilla]

Many folk don’t realize what’s out there in terms of help. Also, some folk have some pride and don’t want a handout unless it’s truly dire.

I know my parents were like that back in the day.

[call meVeronica]

Houston has a huge number of churches with this type of ministries. Many of these good folk go between many every month to “shop”.

Once our church required speaking to someone for possible counseling many stopped coming.

Also since going to the debit card many buy items then go sell them to a bodega shop to get $ to buy drugs.