- food banks... 

It may be a popular view

That the poor can't "complain"

'Cause, after all, this food is

Given at no financial cost to them.

You know, the adage that

Beggars can't be choosers?

It's agreeable to a certain extent.

However, let's be real about this.

Helping people isn't achieved

When a "it's better than nothing"

Approach is employed to do it.

Here's what I mean by that :

When you commonly find cans

Beyond expired, by two to three years,

It gives a strong impression donors

Use charity to do a spring clean

Of their food cupboards.

When the bank's prepared packet 

Has no conceivable way to let

The recipient make meals

Because all of the items have

No matchable possibilities.

Bread with nothing to put on it.

Pasta with no sauce, or vice versa.

Tired veggies and fruits days away

From expiry, if not already expired.

No basic staples of any kind,

But there are a lot of cakes,

Chips, pop, candies, chocolates...

"Comfort foods" aren't what's

Needed.  Being able to make

A meal is what matters most.

Not insinuating there's no heart

In most intentions of help, but it

Does feel like not a lot of thought

Is really put on the situation

They're hoping to help.

On the receiving end, in an

Already difficult situation, its

Effects can be soaringly sore.