Originally Posted by maxthecollie (Post 998100)

I've lost count of the stuff we have thrown away and put on bonfires, never knowing that it could be worth something.

Originally Posted by garinda (Post 997853)

For the past few weeks the Observer's featured articles about the charity Maundy Grange.

Dorothy McGregor, the founder, says so far this year they've given 534 food parcels.

She's quoted once again in this weekend's newspaper, saying that...

'For many people , life in Accrington in 2012 is worse than it was in The Depression.'

What utter drivel!

I've not heard of many people dying now, because they can't afford to call the out the doctor.

Nor have I seen many children in Accrington with nothing on their feet.

Unlike in the Great Depression we now have a Welfare State, with a generous array of social benefits.

People only go hungry now because of fecklessness.

I don't think she's a bad woman, just woefully naive. Though I would question the benefits she brings to the area.

It's not for nothing drug addicts are called users.

Her providing for them, some of which is sold to buy drugs, makes her a facilitator, in my book.

In response to her outlandish claim, that life in Accrington today is worse than The Depression, I'd love to ask St. Dorothy just one question.

Just how many registered smack-heads were there in Accrington, in the twenties, and thirties?

I'm guessing it wasn't many.

Originally Posted by ToffeeGuy (Post 998104)

Does Dorothy remember the Great Depression? Growing up with rationing in the 50s was hard but we made do.

No doubt there are people living in comparative poverty but a few lessons in home economics alongside the food parcels may not go amiss.

I don't like to judge but the number of times I see families in supermarkets with a trolley stacked high with processed foods and ready meals, pizzas etc. Some of these families will no doubt be claiming benefits.

Times are hard for a lot of people but perhaps the food banks should also offer cooking lessons for some of the families as well. It is usually true that the most nutritious food are the cheapest. Tinned tomatoes, pasta, carrots, rice etc. All comparatively cheap. A few few simple staple foods which can make filling meals.

Originally Posted by susie123 (Post 998097)

Well some of my stuff is now worth quite a lot of money so it can't have been that tatty! Just out of fashion in those days - now more likely to be seen on the Antiques Roadshow.

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington (Post 998107)

Lindsay, I always thought that those on heroin substitute had to drink it there and then before they left the pharmacy.

Originally Posted by lindsay ormerod (Post 998121)

I think the trouble is that no-one at council level has the "cojones" to confront St Dorothy about the blight she has brought on the town, for fear of upsetting the applecart. The Council has to be seen to be supporting "charities" even ones as badly run and obviously flawed as this one.