Dear Brandy, Thanks SO MUCH for your support.  Although I am eager to hear all points of view, it is always heartening to find that the proposed solution that a person has given, that I have given, is in line with the points of view of other Forumites.  Yours in Him, Deb

It would be nice if your hearing date could be set, so you could know what to do with your stamps on the 1st.  I would go ahead and call the Jewish program and explain what you are going through, maybe they could put you on for the first few weeks of October, until you kow more. I think you wil need some fresh produce and bread, although I am confident you would do fine with your stocks, it would be great to continue to have some fresh.   A call would not hurt, that's for sure, and you can find out if they can take you back, or if there is a waiting list, orif you should keep looking.  Sounds like a good amount of food, they might be all you need for a stopgap.  I continue to think of your fs issues. 

BTW, my fs are back in force, they have changed them from 8 people and $653 to  9 people and $543, I am going to call and see if they can put the rent we were paying on the expenses for rent/mortgage.  Otherwise they should take off some of dh's pay , as he paid about half for rent and gas to get back and forth. 

I think they keep getting busier, it is hard to get things done, it seems!  

Dear TracyLateNightLeader, When I looked at the calendar yesterday, & realized with the Jewish New Year, that Jewish Family & Childrens Services could choose not to work on Mon or Tues or Weds, I decided to call the Food Program worker there.  I had to leave a message.

Bread is NOT a problem; I have all the ingredients PLUS a fine bread machine.  I only bought bread on the FoodsCo trip as a special treat.

Fruit IS a problem.  I have cut-up apples in teh freezer for an apple crisp or 2.  I have 4 3-banana packs for baanana bread.  I have about 2 cups of blueberries, some cherries, & another package of something that I can't think of.  BUT I only have 3 apples to eat out of hand, & I'm low on canned fruit.

Veggies I have plenty of, but frozen only (mostly by me).  I have frozen-by-me only potatoes, & I don't know what they will be like defrosted.

Then there is just the TAAM (taste) factor, of preferring fresh foods to frozen.

Love in Him, Deb

Dear Tracy, I forgot to say that, with budget cuts, hearing officer openings are not being filled, so it could be a month or more before I get my hearing date.  Love in Him, Deb

Dear All, My Food Stamps problem in terms has not changed, but my food problem has been altered completely, in G-d's grace & with the wonderful assistance of Jewish Family & Children's Services.  I will be getting 6 complete vegetarian meals a week from an organization called Project Open Hand.  (I can eat vegetarian food in my Kosher kitchen, with just a little fudging for hard cheeses -- but Jews have a doctrine of voiding the observance of a law or a part of a law if it is necessary for health.)  I will also get the produce bag (the demand is so high that the bag is less full than it used to be -- I'll let you know whether there still are 2 bags.  This service is paid for by the donations that are made to the Jewish Federation of San Francisco or directly to the JFCS.  I owe nothing for this service.

You can have no idea of what a relief this is to me!  I was so unhappy about having to repay an "overpayment" if I were to use part of the $148/month additional that Food Stamps is posting on my EBT account ($162 they would post -- only $14 of it would I be entitled to -- that leaves $148/month).  I learned in a phone call to Food Stamps Appeals Unit that they would be willing to work out a repayment plan, but my money is so tight that even that would be a hardship.  And they said that there could not be a hearing date in October.

I am dumb-founded, too numb with joy to tell you what a blessing this is for the New Year, what a great miracle the L-rd has wrought for me, how He has brought this little sparrow into a veritable cornucopia of sustenance.

Yours in Him, Deb

What a blessing this is for you, Deb!  We always have to remember that the Lord will provide.

That is a big relief, Deb.

Thank you so much, Lynnea & Brandy!  Yours in Him, Deb

 That is excellent!  I think with the 6 meals, the produce, and your stocks, plus the $14 for yogurt (do you have that for breakfast?)  you are going to be just fine.  One thing you might miss is cooking what you like, maybe, but I'm sure in the time you are on the program you will enjoy food that you haven't thought to cook!  It will be fun to open your packages on delivery day and see what you have.  I'll be looking forward to seeing your posts, and what you are getting. 

PTL, no worries for the time being. 

Dear Tracy, It's a lot of fun to be on the JFCS food program, just as you thought.  I was on it for several years before I decided to apply for Food Stamps.  Considering all the hassle about Food Stamps, who knows, I may choose not to go back on it.  In any event, with being on the program, I shouldn't have to buy ANYTHING at all for the duration.  I have been eating yoghurt as cheap dairy, what with dairy being such an important component of a balanced diet -- & they say it helps you to lose weight.   Love in Him, Deb