AI6YR Ben4d ago
*Not* a judgement on the people in the food pantry lines, but I am surprised by the number of very new and nicer cars in those lines in the TV coverage. (lots of "solid middle class" Hyundai, Nissans, Honda sedans, etc.) Much newer cars than mine, and no scratches or dings and very clean compared to my beater. My uninformed guess -- people who were comfortable middle class but not a lot of savings and thrown into needing food banks because of job loss and inflation breaking their carefully managed budget? Anyway. (I suppose the REALLY hungry can't afford to burn gas to drive to a food bank and burn gas for 8 hours, or don't have a car).
Show threadDan4d ago

@ai6yr the cars are likely a big part of those folks' bills. if you're cash poor but have steady income, buying new will net the lowest APR and lowest credit requirements. especially with nissan.

dealers will sit a buyer down after a pleasant test drive, pull out a four square, and wear them down over the next five hours. "you can afford $600 a month for a brand new car, can't you?" and they walk out with an 84 month loan and are shackled paying $50k for a $30K car.

Show threadDan

@ai6yr used rates are much higher and "look" worse until you factor in that you have a car at the end. and don't take as much of a bath on depreciation. but there's less aspirational prestige buying used and you'll likely have to put more money down.

and if you have no better options for public transit or it triples your commute time, unless you're both savvy and can save up, it's easy get trapped.

never mind the bewildering political power of dealerships.

May 14 at 5:38amWeb
Show threadAI6YR Ben4d ago
@dank Thanks for all of this... very good points.
Show threadSemitones4d ago
@ai6yr @dank Not sure if it applies, but the food banks near me have started rebranding so that they are for *everyone*. They are called "mobile market". They don't check if you are in need. You just show up, fill out a survey (which asks things like, has food gotten more expensive for you?) and then accept the food they give you. A lot of times the produce is "ugly" surplus like huge carrots that they can't sell in the store but is perfectly good to eat. I think they want to reduce the stigma.
Show threadAI6YR Ben4d ago
@semitones @dank That is AWESOME! I teach at a school, and they recently had a student fair with EXACTLY that... it was a "free produce market" (requiring student ID, etc.). Great idea to make sure people will take advantage of it.
Show threadRobert H4d ago

@semitones @ai6yr @dank

In my community, food bank shoppers are 95% women. Men are too proud. Women want food on the table.

Show threadHotspur🏳️‍🌈🇺🇦4d ago

@semitones @ai6yr @dank

There used to be a nonprofit in my area that gave away huge bags of surplus produce for a small fee (I recall $11) to any and all comers. I recall huge carrots and potatoes the size of my head, as well as stuff I'd never seen before. Once they included frozen pizza dough! They were staple for me for a couple of years until they moved to a very inconvenient location for me, and they seem to have dissolved when COVID came on the scene.