What do you think should be done about food poverty?

And I would say, although this thread is not about anyone in particular, I have met parents through the years who have been unbearably smug about their offspring, and my DC used to tell me some hair-raising tales about what these kids got up to behind their unsuspecting parents' backs.

I think lots of working families are in food poverty as they cant get help from benefits and some dont have parents/grand parents they can depend on to help them out.

durham Hexham does have a food bank, the area covers both end of the spectrum there are the very wealthy and along side the very poor of the community.
The Newcastle Food Bank ran out of food last week and had to transport food by lorry from other areas of the country to help them out.

I only like it at fridge temperature, don't drink it much though. Was it good for us? No-one knew about lactose intolerance etc years ago. At least we got free cod liver oil (didn't mind it) and orange juice when I was young; I read today that rickets is on the increase due to children not getting Vit. D from the sun. Little chance of getting Vit. D this weather anyway, so should they at least bring back free cod liver oil if children aren't getting the nourishment they need? I read a few years ago about some mother who was giving her girls a large bar of "dairy milk" chocolate each a day, because it had all the milk they needed in it. Surely they learn about cookery/nutrition, how to manage on a tight budget in school these days? I didn't, but learnt out of necessity over the years.

Although this thread is not about anyone in particular, it is insensitive to say that children with good and loving parents will not turn to drugs. It is insensitive to say that if there is enough love in a family children will not grow up to be selfish and uncaring towards their parents. There have been plenty of posts on the forum about both situations and the pain they cause. Hence jingl's comments could be hurtful to many gransnetters. I don't think it's a question of us being 'sensitive flowers' but this is not just a theoretical discussion for many people on here and little understanding might go a long way.

Surely we're not all such sensitive flowers that we can't read others' posts without feeling affronted? At this rate no one will feel able to express their views for fear of being 'told off', as though we're in school...

I used to like the school milk when whatever was left had been out in the yard all day and we got to have a second one - I hate cold milk!

Does it matter if some comments are insensitive? This thread is not about a particular member so surely nobody can take anything personally? I'm not saying I agree with everything jingl is saying but who are we to say if she's right or wrong if it's what she believes?

Why insensitive? I have not been talking about anyone on Gransnet. It would be wrong to make this thread personal.

It;s not just me reading them - some of your comments are insensitive.

Don' t read my posts?

jingle I don't mind you having a different view but I find sanctimonious, judgmental and self-satisfied comments very annoying.

Margaret I loved it when the milk was frozen. Winters were colder then weren't they?!

Jess if we cannot be proud of the way our own children have turned out.... well, I think it's very odd.

You lot really don't like it if someone has a different point of view to you, do you?!

I would say my level of enjoyment of this thread is probably about the same as everyone else's. More interest than enjoyment, I would say.

Oh dear, it all seems to have gone way off beam from the original question!
To lighten it up - I am so glad they stopped the school milk Jinglebells - I was milk monitor at infant school (putting in the straws and making sure everyone got one). It went off and stank in the summer, and it was impossible to get the straws through the frozen top in the winter. Still gives me the shudders. Before fridges of course, I'm so old.

jingle lots of perfectly loving parents end up with kids who take drugs - in some parts of the country it is pretty much the norm to smoke dope and try other "recreational drugs". I for one will hold my hand up and say that my kids both did. They were lucky that they got over that phase in their lives without lasting harm. Others they knew at that time were not.
It is not becoming for any parent to be complacent about what a good job they did. They are not the only influence.

I think it would be reasonable to assume that the majority of people seeking help because they are in food poverty are not drug addicts or alcoholics. To suggest otherwise is simply malicious.

Hit the nail on the head there, Nightowl!

Are you enjoying yourself jingl? I'm not sure there's any point in any of us continuing with this really. A little humility goes a very long way in this life.

Galen, I think you have put your finger on the reasons many, many people turn to drugs. Abuse in childhood is so often a trigger and I hate to tell you this jingl but even children from loving homes can be abused in childhood. And an addictive personality plays a very big part in how people go on to deal with it.

Sorry to disillusion you, Jingle................I have seen the results of children being indoctrinated into drug use who had no clue what they were being given, and numerous girls trafficked into prostitution, drugged by pimps and traffickers against their will.

Galen No one is born with an addiction to heroin (well, except the poor little babies of addict mothers). Addictive personality, yes. But no one really makes them take that first hit.

I'm confident in what I say about training given by specialists on drug use jing. Agencies involved with drug users need to have their staff given research based training.

Perhaps food banks should interview all their clients about their parenting skills and the clients' parents about their grandparenting skills and make them take drugs' tests. The children and grandchildren of those whose skills are inadequate or who take drugs, including, of course, legal non-prescription drugs, can then righteously be left to starve.

I see a lot of people who say that they were abused in childhood and that triggered their addiction. It numbed the emotional pain. I also see addicts from what have been obviously loving and caring homes. It seems to depend on whether or not you have an addictive type personality. Like sexuality this is something you are born with, not acquire.

Yep! You definitely should have done.

Shoot! Not when! Iam!