"U.S. Janet B." > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 11 Oct 2017 16:52:06 -0400, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>>On 2017-10-11 4:41 PM, wrote:
>>> On Wed, 11 Oct 2017 16:32:59 -0400, Dave Smith
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>> On 2017-10-11 2:47 PM, Bruce wrote:
>>>>> On Wed, 11 Oct 2017 09:14:58 -0400, Gary > wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Janet wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Don't you believe it; I've encounterd people who have a home
>>>>>>> with no
>>>>>>> power, heating or light because they can't pay the bill; so the
>>>>>>> stove is
>>>>>>> useless and they can't cook anything.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So you helped them out a bit, right?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Yep, I didn't think so.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyone can build a fire outside and cook anything.
>>>>>> Your story was completely made up.
>>>>>
>>>>> What if you get canned food from a charity, but you can't afford a can
>>>>> opener?
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Try to open it with your bottle opener or a cigarette lighter. I know
>>>> there are lots of people who truly need help, but there are also lots
>>>> who need to set their priorities.
>>>>
>>>> I have helped out with food drives and I used to help with the food and
>>>> hygiene bank at my wife's church. One of their usual customers is one
>>>> of
>>>> our former neighbour's sons. He can afford drugs and booze. Many of
>>>> them
>>>> are puffing away on cigarettes on their way in and out of the food
>>>> bank.
>>>> It seems they can afford the $10 or so that it costs for a package of
>>>> cigarettes but they can't afford food.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> Good point Dave! They shouldn't be allowed anything comforting to
>>> them! I would love to think you might fall on hard times sometime in
>>> the future!
>>
>>Do you consider cigarette smoking to be comforting to someone when they
>>light up next to you in a building? It does make me wonder about the
>>need to get food at a food bank when they are spending more on
>>cigarettes than it would cost to by food in a grocery store.
>>
>
> Sometimes when someone has nothing, one thing is all that they have.
> It may be cigarettes, drugs or sex or even a dog that trails along
> after them.
I also think it's easier if you are out and about to get a cigarette from
someone than it is food. How many times has anyone ever asked you for food?
I can only think of one time when I was out and about. I had a package of
string cheese at the park. Two little kids asked me for some. I did give
them some after asking their mother first if it was okay. She was very
grateful as they had no food.
I have had people ask me while in my house, call and ask or stop by and ask
for food. Some people do know of my stockpile and I also keep a lot of
single serve snack type things because we do have a lot of people in and out
of here. However, these are all people I know.
When I smoked, rarely a day went by that I was out and about that someone
did not ask for a cigarette. All it took was for me to light one up in
public.