Thread: Unbelievable! NC Seniors Charity Food Diverted To IA's

When will the madness end!

This story is a couple of days old but I didn't see it posted here, sorry if its a repost.

VISTA: Charity challenges federal food allocation
Angel's Depot says it was unfairly snubbed

By GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer | Tuesday, May 6, 2008 5:08 PM PDT ∞

Susan Hall, founder and executive director of The Angel's Depot, is pictured Tuesday with food that will go to senior citizens in need. (HAYNE PALMOUR IV/Staff Photographer)

VISTA ---- The leader of Angel's Depot, a senior citizens food program in Vista, said this week that a "good old boys network" of religious charities is denying help to North County seniors and giving it to groups that help illegal immigrants.

Angel's Depot founder Susan Hall said that the network ---- the local board of the Federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program ---- had snubbed Angel's Depot's seniors clients, while giving food to dozens of religious charities that served anyone, including people who are in the country illegally.

Scott Suckow, chairman of that board, said the only way the federal program could meet its charge ---- to help any and all needy people ---- was to give food to charities that served everyone, not just specific groups. He said he doesn't know whether the charities that receive food from the program help illegal immigrants, but said it's possible.

Officials from U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa's office said that the congressman believed that Angel's Depot had been discriminated against by the shelter program had asked federal officials to investigate the situation last year.

Issa's chief of staff, Dale Neugebauer, said Monday that the congressman still has concerns, including that many of the charities that benefit from the program are represented on its board.

Neugebauer said Issa has "serious questions about the local (shelter board), in terms of lack of oversight and conflict of interest."

Suckow said this week that the board avoids any conflicts of interest by having board members recuse themselves in votes that directly benefit their agencies.

The federal shelter program was created by Congress in 1983 to help feed and house hungry and homeless people nationwide. It is run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which has been sharply criticized in recent years for its performance during disasters like Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

The program has a national board in Washington, D.C., but it is run by local boards around the country comprised of representatives from charities ---- many of which also receive the program's benefits.

In San Diego, the board has representatives from the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, the Salvation Army, the Ecumenical Council of San Diego County, the United Jewish Federation, the United Way and other groups.

Last year, the board distributed roughly $250,000 in food to charitable groups in the region, but denied the application from Angel's Depot. The Vista organization, founded in 2006, delivers boxes filled with monthlong supplies of nonperishable food to North County senior centers. The senior centers distribute the boxes to elderly people living on $900 or less a month.

Hall said this week she has applied for food from the federal group again this year and wants the shelter program to make up for last year's rejection by giving Angel's Depot extra food, or cash.

Suckow said Monday that the program, which has not yet announced its 2008 allocations, would again insist that Angel's Depot serve "all" needy people to get any of the program's bounty.

Hall said that sentiment left her angry, then depressed..

"That doesn't surprise me ---- in other words, every illegal alien that walks in here and asks for a food box can get one?" she said. "You can't believe how distressing that is. They know there are 50,000 seniors living in North County and we can't even serve them. This is another blow for seniors in need."

Sharon Bailey, vice president of the national shelter program board, said that local boards have the final say in whom they would help.

In 2007, the local shelter board gave food to 37 charities across the county, ranging from Escondido's Interfaith Community Services, to Vista's Catholic Charities St. Francis Center, and Brother Benno's food kitchen in Oceanside.

Hall said she was upset, not only because some of the groups help illegal immigrants, but because many of the charities that received food are represented on the shelter board. Among them, she said, are the Salvation Army in Escondido, San Diego and Oceanside, Jewish Family Services, and Catholic Charities.

"I think it's the good old boys network of faith-based organizations that have been getting this food forever," Hall said.

http://nctimes.com/articles/2008/05/06/ ... ogcomments

this is sick... it is absolutely sick to treat OUR Senior Citizens like this

I'm not suprised. They treat all US citizens like this. It's sad but true and something needs to be done. Perhaps the more Americans are denied help when needed and it reaches each state we will gain more support and drive out all IA. The fact that many Americans have yet to see the impact of IA is why they have not joined the fight but once affected directly which is inevitable considering more states and hospitals and schools are going bankrupt because of IA, Americans will fight together. Now our senior citizens are being directly affected.

This is deplorable.

I'm sorry, no one should ever go hungry....particularly seniors and children.......but these charities need to be limited in the help they can provide illegals.

Really, just what is the sense in passing laws to make them leave, not come here, etc. if they know they can go to charities and receive unlimited cash and other assistance which enables them to remain here?

Originally Posted by azwreath

This is deplorable.

I'm sorry, no one should ever go hungry....particularly seniors and children.......but these charities need to be limited in the help they can provide illegals.

Really, just what is the sense in passing laws to make them leave, not come here, etc. if they know they can go to charities and receive unlimited cash and other assistance which enables them to remain here?

You are right, if it isn't the government giving them freebies it's these charities which makes it so important that businesses be held accountable and also denying them freebies paid for by us. I woud also like to know how american citizens who donate to these charities feel about the money and food and clothes being used going to IA who have no right to it.

This is one reason why I don't donate to these charities. I rather give directly to the person where I know full well that is going to that person. Giving to these charities one doesn't know where our money is going. Yes it is going to help people, but they don't state "which people". My father was a volunteer for a food bank, and on occasion I would be present when my father worked. You will be amazed that I notice immigrants Hispanics and Russians felt they were entitled to more food. Everyone got their even share, but there were those who demanded more. When I saw this it made me realize that these charities are helping Illegals Immigrants. So now I'm not keen in to giving unless I am able to give directly to that person who needs the help.

I left a comment as Vista is the town I grew up in. Mrs Hall is to be applauded and I am appalled that IA's will continue to get hand outs while our seniors suffer in silence. This is deplorable, but SO like Vista because half the town is illegals now so no big surprize.