Name:	MAJ USA RET -	Reply
Subject:	It's only about student backpacks
Date:	9/10/2024 10:45:17 AM (updated 9/10/2024 10:47:18 AM)

Our church has a “Backpack” mission. We provide, each Friday, a parcel of food and snack items, to a local elementary school. These 30 parcels, on the recommendation of the school’s teachers, are distributed to the backpacks of certain students, so that they have something to carry home for the weekend.

A Christian perspective is that: after you have delivered the food, you no longer have a responsibility to determine “eligibility” or “consumption” (i.e. where it goes and who gets it). Such are under the purview of God.

Last year ended with 22 eligible parcels per week at the school. This year begins with 30 required parcels.

So, I ask you for YOUR perspective on this 36% increase. How do YOU think this came about?

1 - PLEASE ! Keep to the subject.

2 - Do not criticize the observations of others.

3 - Do not politicize your comments (e.g. attach the problem to presidential candidates).

4 - Merely present your logic and conclusions.

As soon as you personally attack another contributor, your own contribution is immediately discredited. And no one but me should point that out. I shall remain impartial on this rule.

-      LMF Curmudgeon

Name:	phil -	Reply
Subject:	It's only about student backpacks
Date:	9/10/2024 11:51:39 AM (updated 9/10/2024 11:58:19 AM)

Sadly it is the state of the economy regardless of where you want to put blame.  The dollar is not going as far as it has in the past between inflation and rising costs.  Families are having to struggle harder and harder and the middle class is shrinking. 

I am having to make some assumptions in the increase of children that qualify for the assistance, I did link to a few pages at the bottom where I looked into various statistics in / around Lake Martin and Alabama.

Economy/inflation is crap regardless of what any news media / talking head / politician says:

Either more people are in dire straits and their children fall under the program due to loss in wages, increases in costs, loss of jobs, loss of family wage earner.

Population:

I have been hearing for sometime now that people are not having children at the rates in the past due to whatever reasons.  The only county that Lake Martin touches that seems to be growing in size is Elmore up 12 % vs losses of almost 14% in Coosa(data is a few years old).  If childbirth in the areas are possibly down, is the increase in children needing more due to other factors?  Migration from outside the US being one possibility.  When people come to a location without a family support structure and a lack of  job opportunities,  putting a higher strain on local limited jobs and resources. 

I know near Lake Martin that Russell employees probably the largest number by percentage of the area - but can only hire so many people.  Areas near where I live that used to be large employees of textile all shutdown back under the Clinton NAFTA agreement - those towns in the area dried up financially and families were hard hit.  Alabama has been receiving some unaccompanied minors in the past - I do not know if that is still happening or if that could be a part of the answer to your question.

I know Sylacauga is in the news currently due to some Haitain migrants.  Accurate or not there was also a report I believe from Ohio that migrants may have been eating pets or birds from local ponds/parks - people with jobs and funds usually do not resort to such measures to feed themselves or their families.  I say accurate or not because the news media is doing its best to say its not happening, but we have seen plenty of times over the past 5-10 years that if we give it a few years the debunk gets debunked when the truth finally comes to light.

This also assumes that those who are responsible for the program are giving it to just the students who are truly in need, or to make sure no one is singled out or made to feel bad by getting assistance are they giving to more then they need to?  Kids can be mean for lots of reasons and often do not need much to have a reason to pick on someone.  If the administration / choosing is part of the issue - it could be for better reasons like bullying vs something more devious.

Not sure what part of Lake Martin your church services, so still making some guesses - 

https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/alabama/county/coosa-county/

https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/alabama/county/tallapoosa-county/?endDate=2022-01-01&startDate=2010-01-01

https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/alabama/county/elmore-county/?endDate=2022-01-01&startDate=2010-01-01

Alabama unaccompanied minors  - 2200 sent to Alabama  between October 2021/August 2022

https://aldailynews.com/more-immigrant-minors-placed-in-alabama-in-2022/

https://www.newsweek.com/america-middle-class-shrinking-1913772#:~:text=A%20study%20based%20on%20government,to%2051%20percent%20in%202023.

A study based on government data released by the Washington-based nonpartisan fact tank in late May found that the share of Americans living in middle-class households dropped from 61 percent in 1971 to 51 percent in 2023. During the same time, the share of Americans living in lower income households rose from 27 percent to 30 percent, while that of individuals living in upper income households rose from 11 percent to 19 percent.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	It's only about student backpacks
Date:	9/10/2024 3:33:19 PM

Our church in Tallassee started supporting the backpack ministry in coordination with other local churches, and while I don't recall the exact numbers, this year the increase in recipients is roughly the same order of magnitude as yours.  I don't know, nor do I care to find out why the increase.  If we are helping those in need I am willing to accept that some of the backpacks might end up in unintended places.  Maybe some of them sell the contents or the food ends up with some who CAN afford to feed themselves but don't. 

Some of these kids go hungry on the weekends and those of us who truly aren't concerned about where our next meal will come from should share with those who are.  I will share your post with our backpack mission leader and get her take on the subject.

Name:	MrHodja -	Reply
Subject:	It's only about student backpacks
Date:	9/10/2024 10:28:21 PM

I know, it isn't cool to respond to your own posts....

The lady in charge of our church backpack ministry didn't have any particularly applicable comments.  But the substance and direction of your post leads me to think you are looking for something negative, like the increase in numbers reflects fraud, and that someone has figured out how to game the system.  But I will put the onus back on you.  What do YOU think the remarkable increase in backpack requirements/recipients means?  Crappy economy?  Fraud? Possibly that those who NEED it are finding out about the program and taking advantage of it?

As I said before, it is highly doubtful that anyone reading this post is worried about their next meal.  We need to be concerned about those who are.

Name:	MAJ USA RET -	Reply
Subject:	It's only about student backpacks
Date:	9/11/2024 5:15:52 PM (updated 9/11/2024 5:29:36 PM)

I have a couple of theories.  You are right to suggest I might be considering a "crappy economy."  I also note the increasing presence of Latin American folks - especially in the construction trades.  At one on the other food distribution agencies with which I am associated, hispanic families arrive with children in tow.  It is interesting to note that a signigicant number of the conversations require a school age child to translate conversations between English and Spanish.  I note to myself, those children might well be clients of the backpack mission.

However: "A Christian perspective is that: after you have delivered the food, you no longer have a responsibility to determine 'eligibility' or 'consumption' (i.e. where it goes and who gets it). Such are under the purview of God."  They get the food.

If they show up at our on-site ministry, we just give them the food.

Under both the religious and secular scenarios about which I have written, little of the costs are borne by taxpayer, but rather by charitable contributions, food industry bulk donations, and volunteerism. I say "little" because some of the food is injected into the system by USDA. 

 "A study based on government data released by the Washington-based nonpartisan fact tank in late May found that the share of Americans living in middle-class households dropped from 61 percent in 1971 to 51 percent in 2023. During the same time, the share of Americans living in lower income households rose from 27 percent to 30 percent..."

Regardless of illegal immigration or crappy economy, you are right Mr Hodj - there is the proof in the pudding.

But, If our fellow citizens and interlopers are on welfare... that IS borne by taxpayers.  We are going the extra mile while the load is being increased.

- LMF Curmudgeon

Name:	GoneFishin -	Reply
Subject:	It's only about student backpacks
Date:	9/11/2024 9:46:04 PM (updated 9/11/2024 9:48:19 PM)

I commend you for participating in the program.

i think you are reading too much into the numbers. Which elementary school? What was the total popuulation of the school in 2023 and what is it for 2024?  Statiscally, the numbers are too small to draw any conclusion. It could be the economy, divorce, or more knowledge among teachers about the program.

If it is Dadeville Elemetary, there are 544 students. 22 represented 4% of total student population and 30 5.5%. That is hardly much of a movement.

If the 2023 population was 2 students and 2024 was  4 students, that would be a 100% increase. Small numbers lead to inconclusive conclusions.

Again, i commend you.