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HeeHawHoney's avatar
HeeHawHoney
Explorer
Dec 16, 2013

Groceries for needy family

I have a co-worker who is in terrible need of assistance. She has told a few of us, in confidence, that she has $5 in her checking account and no food in her house. Another co-worker brought her a deer tenderloin and some ground deer, so she is taken care of for a minute. I want to go do a quick grocery shop for her, but I can't overdo it. Here is the list I've prepared, can you all think of anything else that I can buy in bulk that would get her family's belly full that has good shelf life and isn't too expensive?

10 lbs Potatoes
3 bags Cereal - I know they eat a lot of cereal
1 gal Milk
Hamburger Meat - Pick 5 for $19.99 at our local store
1 case Ramen Noodles
5 lbs Sugar
Tea bags
Eggs
Milk
Bread


What should I add?
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    Dec 16, 2013
    Rramen noodle soup big packs at walmart for 2.22.get a ham loaf 8.00 can be cut thin for lunch meat.large bag of pancake mix 8.00 goes forever. Then go register her at a local church for a chritmas food basket.instead of a gallon milk buy powdered it goes further suger tea frozen veggies hamburger for 22.00 at walmart get 10lbs
  • HeeHawHoney's avatar
    HeeHawHoney
    Explorer
    Dec 16, 2013
    Awesome idea on the powdered milk. I will change that right now. It will last a lot longer and you can't tell the difference in cereal.
  • Escargot's avatar
    Escargot
    Explorer
    Dec 16, 2013
    Flour - to make bread
    Butter
    Peanut Butter and Jelly
    Pasta and sauce
    Rice, beans
    Canned / frozen vegetables
    Canned /frozen fruit
    Bottled juices
    Dish detergent
    Laundry soap
    Toothpaste

    I'd ditch the sugar and ramen noodles, just because I don't like either.
  • newman_fulltime's avatar
    newman_fulltime
    Explorer II
    Dec 16, 2013
    They might need hygene products toilet paper.if you have a local store talk to the manager tell them what you are doing alot of tims they will give a discount or match what you spend
  • HeeHawHoney's avatar
    HeeHawHoney
    Explorer
    Dec 16, 2013
    Great ideas, Escargot. I just added flour and dried beans and peanut butter.
  • Merrykalia's avatar
    Merrykalia
    Explorer
    Dec 16, 2013
    How about some instant potatoes. They aren't great, but they sure keep longer than potatoes and can fill a stomach up pretty well.

    Pasta and dried beans have a long shelf life, but can be fixed with only water although they taste better with other additions. I would add plenty of these to the gift basket.

    No matter where you are located, I am sure there is a food bank that serves that locality. They should be able to assist and if not, social services or an advocacy center can help.
  • HeeHawHoney's avatar
    HeeHawHoney
    Explorer
    Dec 16, 2013
    I also just added oil. If she wants to use the flour to make biscuits, she won't need yeast, but she will need oil.
  • HeeHawHoney's avatar
    HeeHawHoney
    Explorer
    Dec 16, 2013
    I know that there are several churches around here that have a food bank and a benevolence fund. I'm not active in any of them anymore, but I'm sure some of my relatives would be able to point me in the right direction for her. I'm just afraid that she will be too proud to ask for help. She didn't want to tell any of us about her deliema, but we overhead her on the phone with her son. I'm afraid to give her cash because of her husband. He's likely to spend it on things that I don't approve of. This way, if I buy their groceries, I know where the money is going.

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