Does anyone know if the food drive that usually is at Stuart Mesa, being held there this next Tuesday or the other location? It's easier for me to get to Stuart Mesa but we've been fine the last few weeks so I lost track if their turn or not....and I have no idea where to look to find out. 

Weren't you just making plans to go to Sea World?

You can afford that expense, but can't afford to put food on the table? 

no, that's not happening for a while 

In case anyone wanted to know-- A friend told me that it was at Stuart Mesa last Tuesday, so the next time it will be there it will be the 17th. Usually the host posts it on PYS, but this time it must have been someone else running it because there was no reminder....or maybe not enough donations. 

There's a program that the FRO for my husbands unit emails info about. If you're stretching your budget and need some help, ask your FRO for some info. It's the western eagle food bank. I've never used them, but I think it could help if you need it. 

Thank you, Leigh. My husband hates it when I have to contact the FRO because it's her job to always contact his command. But it's good to know. There are friends who ask me about it too, so I'll let them know. 

There are plenty of people posting online about needing free meals for their children's lunches, but they are fine paying over $150/month for cable and internet. There are people posting about not being able to afford much because of "what the military pays their husbands"--yet they have 2, 3, 4, 5, kids. I don't know if you know this, but the MORE kids you have the less available resources there are going to be. I understand how the birds and the bees work, accidents happen, but Americans are "fighting" for free birth control, the military gets it free (on Prime) and they don't utilize it. Or military couples with no kids, who BOTH work who go to food giveaways. None of it makes sense. They're just enabling people to rely on these programs. I'm not against people in need, or giving to them, but those in legitimate need.

I think they need to scan the IDs of the participants and if you are there continuously, and at multiple sites you should be forced to talk to a debt counselor. That would help people-not enabling them. However, people are going to do what they want to do and as long as these programs continue they're not going to fix themselves. 

There are plenty of people posting online about needing free meals for their children's lunches, but they are fine paying over $150/month for cable and internet.
Some stay-at-home moms have home-jobs in which they need the Internet. I do as well. But I get the cable thing. That isn't necessary.
"--yet they have 2, 3, 4, 5, kids. I don't know if you know this, but the MORE kids you have the less available resources there are going to be. I understand how the birds and the bees work, accidents happen
There are many reasons why people have children even when they can't afford it. It is usually a religious thing. Sometimes there are different reasons. You may not understand it, but that is unfair to bring it up. 90% of the popularity of the world is never financially ready to have 1 child (this is guess-timate), but it is nature to reproduce. 

Lmao @ "there are many reasons why people have children even when they can't afford it--sometimes there are different reasons"--being what? What LOGICAL reason is there to have more kids than you can afford? Bottom line is that They are YOUR responsibility, not anyone else's. You have no right to have more kids than you can afford then make demands that other people pay for them. You have no "right" to demand free school lunches for your children when you choose $150 cable and Internet over giving the children YOU made, food. 

The FRO doesn't have to tell the command when you email them. I email our FRO all the time. Usually because my husband forgets crap he is supposed to pass along since he is more worried about real work issues than ball info etc. Not once has he come home "OMG WHY DID YOU ASK IF THEY WERE GOING TO ARRANGE CHILD CARE FOR THE BALL?!?!?!" lol I could not be married to someone who appeared to have such control over my life.

That being said- what CD is talking about it completely accurate and is totally fair to talk about. People put themselves in poor financial situations and either don't want to give up their luxuries to live within their means until the situation is fixed or there is such rampant abuse of temporary help for things that those who really could use the help truly temporarily are blocked out by those who feel entitled to the help just because they have access to it. She isn't necessarily saying *you're* doing these things but the majority of the people I see waiting in line for various free things or signing up for this here and that there are just taking advantage.

And trust me- I know crap happens but it's not the majority of those out there with their hand open asking for stuff. 

Bottom line is that They are YOUR responsibility, not anyone else's. You have no right to have more kids than you can afford then make demands that other people pay for them. You have no "right" to demand free school lunches for your children when you choose $150 cable and Internet over giving the children YOU made, food.
That I do agree with. But when you're looking at someone and don't know them but you see them with a line of children behind them at a food-giveaway, that says nothing. You don't know what they've gone through. Growing up, people looked at my family judgmentally because my parents decided to have kids until my mother was unable to physically, and we had no luxuries. But my dad was smart. He had a good job, no satellite or cable, no fancy cars, no big vacations, no name brand clothes, store brand groceries and in bulk, did not owe on the house or credit cards, and yet some called them stupid because we didn't have a "normal" life like other kids. No matter what situation you're in, if you have more than 2 kids you're going to get judged for it. Did my parents accept free hand outs when it was offered to them? Hell yeah! Did they stand in line at soup kitchens and food pantries? No, but they sure as hell never judged anyone who did because if one thing went wrong with my father's job then he would see us there in a heart beat. Crap happens, like was said above. 

The military gets FREE healthcare, FREE housing, a contract, and a guaranteed paycheck every two weeks (pending IPAC doesn't mess up). If you're struggling with one kid what would posses you to try for another one?

My "theory" on what happens is when they enlist they think they can "fall back" on the pay and entitlements to support their kids and they get a rude awakening. You know the pay structure when you marry someone in the military, you know the pay structure isn't going to change because you have more kids.

I don't go to food giveaways, but I am on a lot of Pendleton FB pages and where one person posts they need free lunches (and their husband is an E6), then talk about needing a photographer, and how much they pay in cable/internet. Married couples that both have jobs, no kids and go to food giveaways. E4 with two kids asking about food stamps. Or someone who can pay for plastic surgery....but need "free or cheap" clothing for their kids.

Maybe their pay was messed up and they needed it, but in general you are given enough tools to make it work. There are soooo many services available to the military, but people want money over lessons.

I know plenty of civilian families with a lot of kids, but I don't judge them by how many kids they have, or if they NEED assistance. Have you tried making it in the real world yet? I know a civilian family of 7 that are a one-income family, the husband makes about what an E5 makes (minus housing etc) pay for their own mortgage, healthcare premiums, don't have cable, but they scrimp and save and send all their children to private school. So how can a one-income family of seven send all their kids to private school on a yearly basis (SANS WIC, food stamps, etc.) , but a military family with free healthcare, housing, a paycheck and ONE kid complain they can't get food stamps. 

true 

I call them the GimmeGimme's. But you have to do it with the pac man sounds from the game in your head, LOL.

We went to Sea World last weekend, got in for free, spent some money on lunch and parking and still spent less than 50.00. 

We went to Sea World last weekend, got in for free, spent some money on lunch and parking and still spent less than 50.00.
awesome!