FINDING AMERICAN MADE ITEMS IN DOLLAR AND DISCOUNT STORES - and FOOD INSECURITY IN THE UNITED STATES

We recently went to some local Dollar - Discount type stores looking for products that have been MADE IN THE USA and we did find a few, among all the imports from China and other countries.

This included a brand of contact-type paper that we hadn't heard about before.

Locally many of the Dollar-Discount stores have added FOOD purchasable using EBT-Food Stamps  and so we now have to look at labels to be sure that we are buying Pineapple from Hawaii and so on.

When it comes to food, having enough to eat, we have read that Americans throw out 40 % of the food they purchase.  We sure don't.  We make extra meals to freeze and we eat leftovers.  We hate to throw food out.

Once a year I go through the cabinets and look for expiration dates, anything we haven't gotten around to eating for whatever reason, put the stuff in bags and donate it to a local charity that feeds people once or twice a week.  Volunteer chefs there use what they have to create interesting meals.

We've heard about one local charity which picks fruit off peoples backyard trees and distributes it to food banks.

We encourage you to KEEP CHECKING LABELS!


We are especially concerned about cheap imports from China.  We have nothing against Chinese people.  In fact, we are concerned about the pollution and the working conditions of some Chinese who are worked like machines there.  We've heard that some Chinese workers have commit suicide rather than continue the work.  IF WE ARE SO AMERICAN... IF WE THINK SLAVERY IS WRONG... then why would it be OK to support inhumane treatment in the workplace of people in other countries by purchasing the product that is put out in these factories.

We will continue to seek out American Made Products when buying new, and seek used items in thrift stores and garage sales.

BUYING LOCAL GROWN PRODUCE IS RIGHT FOR OUR ECONOMY and HELPS SOLVE HUNGER

We've been reading around the subject of buying locally grown produce.

As you may know, eating lots of veggies, especially fresh veggies, washing them, and lightly steaming them, is very good for your diet - your health and your weight.

WHEN WE LEARNED THAT about ONE THIRD of all produce is wasted before it even makes it to the market, we realized that there is also a good reason to buy local and fresh! LOCALLY GROWN AND PURCHASED FOOD is more economical. It doesn't require the high cost of shipping it! More of the food is actually eaten. Less is wasted. If we all try to do this, by say, shopping at the local farmer's market, growing some of our own veggies and fruits and trading with neighbors, we can actually make more food available to more people for less money!


STILL THINK THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU?

Consider that millions of Americans who never were before are now using FOOD STAMPS - EBT - CALFRESH - to SUPPLIMENT their food budget except that they HAVE NO FOOD BUDGET AT ALL. These people are using EBT and going to FOOD BANKS too!