Recently, someone here on r/frugal recommended I visit a food pantry, if I met the qualifying factors. This reminded me that as a student, I have a pantry available to me at my university.
I've visited four times. Each time, I was able to pick up a weeks worth of pasta, red sauce, mac and cheese, milk, oatmeal, granola bars, instant coffee. I've also gotten tissues, paper towels, toilet paper, disposable and reusable face masks, winter hat and gloves, some school supplies, sponges, body wash, lotion, razors, and hand sanitizer.
In addition, I was provided with a gift card to a local grocery store, as they acknowledged they weren't meeting all of the dietary needs of students and I would still need to pick up meat and dairy products. Yesterday, I was given a $12 food voucher for fruits and veggies that could be picked up at a different location in my town, I used half of it and was able to stock up on squash, onions, a lemon, and an eggplant. In addition, I was given 1 dozen eggs, 1 pound of ground beef, 1 yogurt, and 1 chunk of cheddar cheese.
I am amazed at the resources that are currently available to me as a student. I was laid off from my company in October, and have decided to use this time to finish my bachelor's degree a year sooner than planned. (I was previously a part time student taking 2-3 courses per semester, I am taking 6 this semester) I've applied for SNAP in my state but was denied as I am a student and not working. My rent + utilities + car insurance + car payment.....are covered each month, I am not behind on any of those. But my unemployment is only bringing in around $140 more than my bills, and I've been struggling to continue eating healthily. I'm so thankful to this sub and all of the tips I've come across these past few months. I don't think I have ever made it through the first six weeks of the year without having some sort of financial breakdown but this year even without having income from a job, I am still getting through it.
Thank y'all
Seriously you made a difference in this one chick's life
February 10, 2021 at 09:42PM
