Originally Posted by MN Mom:
I AM at poverty level. We have been for YEARS. I have never...NOT ONCE taken advantage of the "free" programs to survive. Last year we made 25K (that is including our tax return income). I have 4 children and a mortgage on a 165K property. My husband and I are able to put food on the table every night for our children. They have clothes, a roof over their heads, and a mom and dad who LOVE them very much. So please don't come here and spout that bull crap about NEEDING it to survive. I don't NEED it. Would my life be less stressful? Yes. But I wouldn't have the motivation I have now to work HARD every day to provide for my family and build my online business. We work HARD and save so that we can do fun things like vacations with the kids, even if they aren't the most luxurious. Welfare and subsidized programs are good for those who really really NEED it, but the definition of a need vs a want is SOOOOOO screwed up in this country it makes me PUKE.
A few years ago, my DH and I decided to adopt a family and do something nice for the holidays for them. We decided we were going to give them all the trimming for a holiday meal and a few spending dollars for gas or gifts for their children.
My DH and I started out dirt poor doing everything ourselves without the help of anyone other than our own need to survive. We wanted to pay our good fortune forward.
When push came to shove and we were ready to start buying stuff for our "care package" we were startled to realize that we couldn't really find a truly needy family.
Oh, don't get me wrong, we knew lots of families that struggled and were maybe on assistance or really had a hard time paying their bills but when we really looked at them we realized all of them smoked, had newer cars, went to the casino's, dressed in name brand clothing, had cell phones and tattoos etc etc
So in all honesty, we really couldn't find a truly
needy family.
I KNOW there are families out there who are struggling and really really do need the help.....but I didn't have any idea where to find them.