I applied for help at our local food pantry November or December last year. It is a pretty organized affair, and manages both donated and USDA available things. USDA things require income verification, and I qualify for that, but am too young for an additional package (and I don’t know now if it still exists, to be honest). I now have a renewable appointment once a month unless I get additional income and no longer qualify. I am always grateful there. Even though a lot of it is expired, it is still edible, and lately there seems to be someone who is sure to donate things you don’t need, like candy and cookies. I shouldn’t eat them, but will usually accept a little so I can treat my granddaughter when she comes to visit. She was absolutely thrilled with her kinder joy egg today. I think in a weird way I am more touched by the candy and pet food sometimes. It shows that some people expect us to be human, too.
I’m being humble enough to share about this - being poor and vulnerable - because a lot of people maybe don’t live like me. Today they had tomato plants! I grabbed a big pot with multiples that I will be planting this evening. So very grateful for them.
Since the DOGE cuts to the USDA budget, the list of staples I can choose from decreased by 1/3. Today while I was waiting in line, they had to edit the sheets we were holding because two of the items in that list now had to be rationed and exclude families with only one person (like mine). That took away the spaghetti noodles and a box of macaroni and cheese. It’s less than two dollars to replace them out of pocket. Gas started going up, and so has meat. This month I am canceling any remaining streaming accounts.
Sometimes I look at my animals and know (from experience in places like church) that poor people are expected to give away pets. I bought this place when I downsized so my two pasture ornaments would cost me next to nothing to keep. They are middle aged horses that have never had a bridle or saddle. They are big dogs with hooves. My granddaughter likes to pick handfuls of grass to feed them, and now they nicker when they see her and come up to the fence. She is young and sometimes only hands them a couple of blades at a time, but they take it gently from her and wait for more.
Unbroken horses, a gelding and failed broodmare, aren’t worth money. I imagine the Black Beauty ending and feel safer for them here. My chickens cost maybe $30/month averaged out, and right now lay six to eight eggs a day. I eat some, share others with my son (struggling to support his family of three) or trade them with friends for other things (like having my elderly terrier groomed the other week).
The cuts already made by DOGE and left in place are causing real changes to the vulnerable. I felt sorry for the woman who manages the food pantry the week the new lists were handed out. She was so apologetic. She works so hard at this and feels responsible for things beyond her control.
I just wanted you to know what these changes are doing here on the ground at home, in case you don’t know anyone like me. Thank you for reading.