To "App" or Not to "App": The Use of Gluten Free Product List Computer Applications

Amy, this is a great idea! As a social work student I often wonder what it would like to be facing hunger and poverty with no where to turn. I am glad that I am not the only one with this in mind!

This article is especially touchy for me...I am a single mother of 3 gorgeous girls. My baby is celiac and l have been faced with the decisions of "buy for the baby" or "buy for everyone else". No one can possibly know the heartbreak of having to make that decision. I have had to use the food bank and unfortunately for someone facing no money for a month and only receiving enough food for a few days, the frustration and desperation is compounded when in those few days of food there is nothing my baby can eat because it has almost all gluten containing foods. I am working hard to get to a better place to be able to support and care for my family, but what do l do in the meantime? Gluten free food donations would be a huge help to those who are in need.

Tangie, when you have such an urgent need, I'd suggest going to a local church and telling them of the situation. Ask if anyone in their church could "adopt" your family to assisting in feeding you for 3 months. Perhaps you could even attend a M.O.P.S. (Mother's of Preschoolers) group to ask for help there. If you are still needing help, please let me know.

Well done article Amy! Great information and suggestions!

I live in Wyoming and have tried local churches and food banks to get assistance with food but as soon as I bring up my need for gluten-free items I am treated as though I am ungrateful or picky which is not the case I simply do not want to accept food that I cannot eat when there are others who would benefit from getting that food. I used to receive snap benefits to help with our food costs but my eldest son whom is a full-time junior in high school started working a part-time so The department of Family Services required me to provide all of his pay stubs and include his gross income toward the household income resulting in loss of benefits completely. There was no consideration for the fact that he is not an adult he had been working in order to afford a car and insurance for that car which accounts for every dime he makes. Not to mention I am only 3 months into recovering from a full hip replacement after being homebound and unable to walk for 3 years due to necrosis and osteoarthritis and other health issues. So I am wondering if there are nationwide charities that can help individuals and unique situations where local food assistance is not available. And before the judgment and comments kick in I would like to add that yes I am attempting to return to the workforce and I know there are in home jobs available but with my emotional and mental struggles such as PTSD bipolar ADHD and so on along with a developmentally disabled youngest child my life and specific abilities are a bit of a teeter-totter one day I'm perfectly fine and the next day I'm panicked and anxious and am unable to even answer my phone or the front door for whatever reason. I am aware of the fact that I sound like a broken record full of excuses but I have lived through some trauma that has been hard I have tried and fought through a lot of things and I'm doing my best to do better everyday but Having no family or support system and no one to turn to whatsoever when the fridge is empty and so is my bank account. The other issue I face is when the food banks only have snack cakes and old donuts and pastries (The goodies stores throw out when they're past the sell date) and macaroni and cheese and ramen noodles all the processed non-perishable goods that are high in fat and cholesterol are the only thing available I have to choose between feeding my severely obese disabled child foods that all of his doctors strictly forbid in fear of diabetes and such or nothing at all.