I asked Sarah why Tide and Dryer Sheets were so crucial to the parents of Pantry children. She said smell and cleanliness are essential because if their children don’t smell and look clean, some of their classmates will turn on them, humiliate them, and mark them as poor.
Mothers often give up on food if they can get Tide here much cheaper than at a grocery store.
These items will help the children be accepted when they return to school after the holidays. The mothers insisted that Tide is the only softer substance that eliminates smell, dirt, and stains.
What is unique about this food pantry is that the director listens to these concerns, tries to factor them into her orders, and seeks help.
Research supports this. Tide is the best for stains, smells, and dirt. Part of our mission is to ease the painful choices these families have to make—Tide and dinner, not just one or the other. There is no money to do it all.
Sarah’s bargain requests for today:
Tide Liquid Laundry Detergent Clean Heavy Duty, Original Scent, 24 Loads, 34 fl oz, $5.49.
Reminder: You can access the Cambridge Pantry Amazon Wish list anytime by clicking a link on this page or the green button at the bottom of every blog post. Thanks so much; you are changing lives, and our appreciation is beyond words.
If detergents and dryer cloths smell like Febreeze, that is an awful smell to me. It’s a horrible allergen and for all we know , it’s carcinogenic. I know I sound like one of your trolls. I’m not. I’m just asking for common sense and less odiferous products. Cheap often means cheap in many ways. There are other healthy, affordable ways to smell clean.
I don’t choose the products, items, or food, Carol; I get what I am asked to get. This is not trolling, but once again, I should point out something many people have trouble grasping…poor people and pantry directors do not get to choose the food the rest of us do; they get what is given them and what can be afforded. If you have a complaint, please take it directly to the pantry, not me; the pantry no is 518 677 7152.
I get messages like this often from nutritionists, who are usually much nastier than yours. They don’t seem to know that super healthy food costs four times the money they receive. It is way beyond the budget of the people who urgently need food for their children. Remember that the least healthy food or household item for hungry people is no food; I do not accept that their children will get cancer from their homes using dryer sheets once a year or so. They hardly ever get or use this, and the government approves it. That is common sense to me. I respect your message and appreciate your caring; I do not tell these people what to want or the officials who set many guidelines on what they must do. The pantry does not get to choose what they receive from government agencies, and I will not tell them what they must or request or serve. I am not qualified, and I won’t spread alarms. They are desperate enough as it is. Nutritionists learn a lot about nutrition but little about food poverty. I can’t and won’t research every request I get, and I will try to get them what they say they need.
P.S. I have no idea what brand they are using. And I find it offense to lecture these families on affordable ways to smell clean. That’s not my job or right.
P.S. Organic and healthy food costs, on average, five times more than stored or conventional food. If you can find healthy food that is “affordable and clean” (what is affordable for people with no money?), please feel free to send it to the Pantry, they will be delighted to use it and thanks.