Linderville

Wednesday...

So its almost 10 pm and I'm so very hungry.  I've not eaten dinner yet because I have sewing classes on Wednesday nights and I couldn't stop to get anything to eat.  Quite the eye opener. 

My dinner this evening will be shepherds pie that Jessica made from some of our pooled ingredients.  It's in the oven at this very moment.

I have to say that so far this has been quite the challenge.  One thing that I am quite embarrassed about is how little I pay attention anymore at the grocery store.  My attitude about it has become quite lacadaisical.  I basically go in with my list (when I don't leave it on the kitchen table) and just get what I want.  Notice I didn't say get what I need.  That's another thing I've reminded myself of this week.  I don't always "need" to get some of the things that I do.  I mean I believe I'm somewhat careful in what I buy, just forgetful of the manner in which its done most of the time.

I've forgotten that not everyone that goes into the grocery store has that luxury.  I certainly don't mean just the people who receive food stamps either.  Anyone on a fixed budget, whether its a single parent, the elderly or students.

How quick it is to forget the weeks of a different hamburger helper every night.  I really believe that after this week, I will be taking a whole new outlook on how I shop.

Now I've got to go and eat...

Tuesday...

So Monday, I ate grits for breakfast.  For lunch it was peanut butter and jelly sandwich and then for dinner I had egg salad.  You know, just eggs and mayo.

Yesterday, it was grits again along with peanut butter and jelly yet again for lunch.  For dinner I turned it up a notch and had beans and rice, which I suspect I'll be having for lunch today.

I've had nothing to drink but water and coffee (we are allowed only to have it at work if our office provides it, which thankfully ours does, otherwise I'd be even more a raving lunatic than I am).

Jessica and I only have 9 meals left.  I can and can't imagine doing this on a daily basis all the time.

Monday of Hunger Week 2007

So our list of groceries for the week looks something like this:

Items we are sharing:

Tuna                 $2.00

Peanut Butter    $1.69

Jelly                  $1.50

Mayo               $2.00

Corn                $0.60

Chips               $1.00

Bread               $2.50

Potato              $0.99

Hamburger       $3.09

                        $15.37, so divided by 2 is $7.68

My list:                                                                        

Grits                 $1.89                                                               

Beans               $0.99

Rice                 $0.99

Eggs                 $1.89

                        $5.76

Jessica’s list:

Cereal              $1.19

Spaghetti          $1.00

Sauce               $1.00

Milk                 $2.89

Lemonade        $1.00

                        $7.08

Together we have about $1.80 left between us.  We’ve gotten through 2 meals and have 13 to go.  I know for me its going to be hardest at night after dinner time, when I usually pick at things around the kitchen.

I can definitely see how children who rely on food stamps have obesity problems.  You just cannot afford fresh fruits and vegetables.  Of course this is not the only reason, but I really think it contributes.

I also know that this program is supposed to only be a supplement and not pay for food entirely for a family, but with single parents and elderly who are already stretched so thin with daycare and medication, its no wonder why they have to rely entirely on the food stamp program.

I’ll be back in the morning to let you know how the night went.

Hunger Week 2007

So there was this challenge issued at work after a few people read articles and saw news reports about Hunger Week in other states such as Oregon.  The governor of Oregon has made one week every year since he took office, a Hunger Awareness Week.  Hunger Week Governor of Oregon

So, a few people in my office are up for the challenge.  We have to live off of what the average person in the State of Maine who receives food stamps actually receives.  Here in Maine that comes to a whopping $2.89 a day.  For argument sake, it was rounded up to $3.00.

We have to start as though we have nothing in our pantries and manage for 5 days.  We can pool our money with someone else who is doing the challenge if we want.  I have pooled with my friend Jessica and as of right now we still need to run the numbers, but I believe we have our items purchased and are ready to begin tomorrow.

I'll be posting our grocery lists and costs on here to keep you apprised of our progress.