My son, an Iraq Vet, calld me today and was hinting he needed food.

[Breeze54]

:cry: :cry:

He got laid off a month ago from AT&T an he insists he's fine but I don't believe him.

He talked about "getting food" almost for the whole conversation.

I have no money to spare.

We're barely gettin by ourslves.

I'm upset. I have to admit.


......

I mean, they stop lossed him and

he came home to NO home and no job and

finally got one with AT&T and now?

They laid him off and probably permanently.

He says he's not worried but I AM!!!!

Geesuz fucking cripes on a pogo stick!!

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

:(

[EFerrari]

1. Goddamit. Can you say what county he's in? Maybe we can find something.

I hate this fucking government. :grr:

[sandnsea]

2. Okay, people MUST apply for food stamps

Please please please DO NOT WAIT. I cannot emphasize this enough. Do Not Wait until you are 3 days from eviction to go get help. Unless you KNOW you will have a paycheck in 30 days - GO NOW. So many people could probably get through tough times if they just go get the help BEFORE they are in complete crisis. PLEASE. I know what kids and homelessness and NO FOOD is. DON'T DO THAT TO YOURSELF.

And hug to you Breeze. It's awful to have your kids out there and you don't know what they're going through for sure. :hug:

[Breeze54]

3. I'm sorry but I'm pretty pissed off and distraught. Please forgive me.

:cry:

[glowing]

4. Perhaps we could provide a little DU food drive...

[Breeze54]

6. NO!! He would hate that!! I'm sorry but he would hate that...

He is just ... I don't know how to say it...

just .... lost.

[glowing]

8. Where does he live at, perhaps one of us could invite him over for a meal

and a place to veg out for a bit.. be with good hearted liberals... My husband is outstanding on a grill. LOL.. I'm in FL though.

[Breeze54]

10. Thank You, glowing, for your kind generosity

but he is in the Midwest and insists that he's fine. I don't think he'll starve but
it's just all the hopes I had for him and his 2 yr younger brother just seem like
a pipe dream now, to me. I had such high hopes for them and now it seems like it's....

.... all gone.

It isn't that he'll starve (I wouldn't let that happen), it's just he was so sad
that he can't provide what he's been doing for the last 2 years... I hate that!!


I should never have posted this. I'm sorry.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

11. Yes you should have posted this

Have you thought about getting in contact with local veteran's organizations? They might be able to help with food and even a job.

[Mari333]

14. here is your blessing

all 3 of your children are alive. i have 3 sons and 2 yrs ago i found the body of my youngest son. i know he is alive in spirit but no longer in body, but i remember complaining with worry before he passed on about my children's lives. now, i dont worry anymore.
so, enjoy the blessing that you can pick up the phone and call any of them now.
hugs

[dixiegrrrrl]

16. Breeze, thank you so much for posting.

I am sure there is not a parent here who does not feel the pain of our children's lost hopes and dreams, no matter how old the "kids" are.
And especially made worse by the fact your son was in the military and got screwed over so badly.

It will take years..generations..to fully measure the depth of our losses from this criminal administration.
World wide losses.
American losses.
Family losses.
Our children's future on so many levels.

I feel your mourning, I share it for my sons, also.

"There are ink and tears on the page.
Only the tears have spoken..."

[shireen]

18. i'm glad you posted.

does he have a family? Can he relocate to get a new job?
What's his training? (PM me if you don't want to post it on DU)

[PassingFair]

21. He should apply for food stamps, Breeze.

All the "stimulus" talk I've heard lately actually
CENTERS around building up the food stamp program as
a means to stimulate the economy, because they MUST
be USED and can't be hoarded or saved, they supply
an immediate jolt through the economy.

Mention this to him as I believe they will become
readily available to anyone who wants them.

[glowing]

27. Its everywhere.. My parents did what they did.. worked for years doing jobs they

hated to send my sister and I to school.. and its sad to see that our country has lost its innovation and will to do better and more for our least. Its not their failure.. Its OUR failure.

[robinlynne]

28. There was a time when my brother didn't have enough food, and would not accept help.

because he didn't want to admit he needed it. I simply went to the grocery store, loaded up the car, and took it over. The smile went from ear to ear. I picked out what I like, bought big quantities (at costco), and drove it to his house. Noone would refuse a gift like that. if several of us pitch in $5.00 apiece, you can buy an amazing amount of food at costco with $100.00.
i'll pitch in. Don't have extra money but $5.00 X 20 people would certainly help and enable you to do a big shopping!

[shireen]

31. count me in

please PM me if you start a collection.

[robinlynne]

46. I'm afraid I dont have the time to do a collection, but if the poster wanted to rganize it, I would

be glad to pitch in. It is so amazing what a little group of people can do together!

[shrike]

43. Me, too

[Frustratedlady]

5. Does he qualify for food stamps? Have him go to a food bank.

They are getting a lot of middle class people and the supplies are low, but he might be able to get something to keep him going.

My kids and I are going to donate to the food bank and to the animal shelter, this year. The animals need help, too. They are in desperate need of towels, blankets, rugs in addition to food. We are going to do what we can, rather than have a gift exchange.

[glowing]

7. I think that is best this year.. I'm donating in people's names this year.

I'll do something military-ish for my brother in law and sis n law.. he's just back from Iraq.. AND everyone will have a place donated that fits their person.. It just means more than junk this year.

[crispini]

9. Angel Food ministries.

Look it up on the web -- they have a good program, and you don't have to fill out any paperwork, just ask.

[shadowrider]

12. What'd he do for ATT?

I might be able to refer him to some folks.

[Breeze54]

15. They hired him for 'CISCO" and as a lineman... crews went out and hung wire...

sort of like what he did in Iraq, :(

They kept sending his crew, including my 2nd oldest son, on the same crew,

out to remote locations in Illinois to hang wire, just like in Iraq. :(.

But he is also a musician. He has a band. He's on 'My Musical Space'.

Thank You. :hug:

PM me or I'll PM you.

We're talking 60 miles south of Chicago.

[shadowrider]

17. Cisco VOIP I assume?

Is he willing to travel?

[shireen]

24. there's a website for linemen!

seriously!

http://www.line-man.com/

There's a forum there, with a section for jobs that has an interactive map you can click on to check out jobs at different parts of the country.
It also looks like a good place to connect with other people in that career.

Another one, also has forums and job center,
http://www.powerlineman.com/

[ogneopasno]

30. Was he in a union? The electricians? If not, has he talked to the electricians in Chicago?

Maybe he can get in an apprentice program...or if he is in the union, many building trades unions have food banks.

You and your son are in my thoughts.

[midnight]

13. This is very distressing to hear that our vets are struggling.

I just would like to know how we plan on eradicating terrorism, when we can't even end poverty?

[WePurrsevere]

22. Maybe I'm to much of an idealist but I think we can go a long way

towards eradicating terrorism if we eradicate poverty. Money spent on military wars would be much better invested in a war on poverty.

[shireen]

25. you hit the nail on the head!

That is EXACTLY what's needed to eradicate terrorism! Some terrorists may be educated, even of wealthy or modest means, but the vast majority were driven by the desperation of poverty and lack of education. They are easy victims to dangerous people.

[coalition_unwilling]

39. I prefer a "War on Greed" (since we

are debasing the language by declaring war on abstractions like "poverty" and tactics like "terrorism").

[shireen]

19. when he starts job-hunting, tell him to

concentrate on sectors that are not directly affected by day-to-day economic volatility (but still are indirectly affected, after all, no one is impervious to the damage caused by Chimpy and the thugs).
- academic institutions,
- research & development groups with federal government contracts
- government jobs (federal, state, local, tho' the last 2 types are under major stress),
- non-profits
- healthcare
- law enforcement or federal agent jobs

please keep me updated about his progress, either in posts or PM. I wish I could do more for him! If you/he needs someone to bounce ideas off, I'll be glad to help. (I'm no expert, but have a sympathetic ear and lots of gentle opinions.) :)

[crispini]

29. Non-profits are having an awful time.

Endowments took a nosedive in the stock market; everything is drying up.

[JerseygirlCT]

47. It's getting tough there, for sure

Lay-offs to figure out how to make the next year's budget, since fundraising projections are definitely low - and even low ones may be optimistic.

There will always be a NEED. It's just likely that nonprofits will find themselves working fewer employees even harder than they already are for pay that's even lower than it already is...

[MrsBrady]

20. when i had a friend in trouble

I "accidentally" on purpose ordered some food for her and had it sent to her house.

I had it sent anonymously.

there are ways to give stuff to people so they don't know who/where it came from.

sometimes people think if they ask for help it means weakness, but actually it just means you need help.
we aren't perfect. sometimes we need help. Help means you are human, not weak.

[proud2BlibKansan]

42. I did the same thing for a friend

I called her minister and he took care of the donations I gathered. To this day she has no idea what I did.

[WePurrsevere]

23. It's overwelming for so many. I'm sorry he's hurting & that you're

stressing out over this (totally understandably btw.) There's some excellent advice here but he has to want to swallow his pride and take the steps.

Will send lots of positive vibes out his and your way. :hug:

[southernyankeebelle]

26. We all are worried

My heart goes out to your son. We are just making it and find that we have to help our 29 yr old son with a child. It is very hard for him to ask for help. So when I go to the store I might buy alittle extra and that helps them. I pray for our country. It is going to get worse before it gets better I know.

[Fireweed247]

32. Please Breeze, let DU help

You don't have to tell him. Just set up a paypal account where people can send you money to buy a bunch of groceries for him.

[knitter4democracy]

40. I like this idea.

I'm in a bind financially, but I would definitely send a few bucks. No one should be going hungry. No one.

[Hekate]

33. Jesus, I'm so sorry. All I can suggest is that he get with food stamps and the food bank immediately

Others here will have more. :grouphug:

Hekate

[Hekate]

34. If he's anywhere in SoCal, please check my post here...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x4603077

[elleng]

35. If you haven't seen this,

there are tips here for those in need:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover7-2008dec07,0,7416907.story

[old mark]

36. Breeze, this is how it has ever been for the US troops returning from war.

Many of my contemporaries from the Vietnam days are still homeless, drug addicted, emotionally destroyed, still suffering toe consequences of being involved with that mess. Same for many Korean vets, many of whom had just adjusted to home life after being in WWII.

WWI vets got established just in time to fall into the depression.

Get your boy all the help possible, from people here, from an organization, from anyone who can help. It will get worse, I'm afraid.
Good luck.

mark

[proud patriot]

37. we kids are rose coloring things

It's very hard not to live up to
what was the standard ....things are
really rough.

[marshall]

38. Maybe he's dreaming of Mom's or Dad's "Home Cookin'"

I know I have fond memories of meals prepared by my parents.

[Christa]

41. Try contacting these people

http://survivorcorps.org/NetCommunity/us/

My heart goes out to you and your son, and to all our brave vets and soldiers who are so mistreated.

[tom_paine]

44. That is terribly tragic. For it to be a veteran, too, is tragic.

I pray for all things to get better Obama is our best chance in a long time that things might get better in the long-term.

Hang on, and know there are millions out there who this is happening to, and know that the hopes and prayers of many DUers are with your and your son.

:grouphug:

[mentalsolstice]

45. Why don't you x-post this in the lounge, I'm sure you'll get lots of input

Particularly after yesterday morning. My advice is he needs to get off his ASS and get proactive. NOW, NOW, NOW. GET HIS ASS BACK IN SCHOOL! NOW, NOW, NOW! HE NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY! RIGHT NOW! HE NEEDS TO GROW UP, BE AN ADULT! NOW, NOW, NOW!

Jeebus, my head fucking hurts!
:mad: