Comments on: Roanoke’s ‘food deserts’ are among the driest in the state

By: A Citizen?

A Citizen? — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:34:18 +0000

I could not believe that you used three entire pages including the FRONT page on an article like this. Was she bragging or wanting sympathy? Perhaps both? I actually threw the paper down and screamed at it. I would love to get food stamps in that amount and be able to take a cab to the store. What’s next….a Kroger or Food Lion built at her request? I have to drive my very old car many miles to the store to buy what little I can afford to last a month. No food stamps for me. Steaks, shrimp, watermelon? Not at my house. A slap in the face for those that have to pay and actually drive miles to the store.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:38:28 +0000

People? She didn’t volunteer this information…a reporter went out AND FOUND HER. SHE didn’t put this info out there, the REPORTER DID.

She’s not asking for your “sympanthy”. If Matt Chittum can manage to research and write this piece without dissolving into wild envy over thsi woman’s life of leisure and luxury, maybe the rest of you need to get over it.

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 12:12:14 +0000

I cannot believe this was on the first page of the Roanoke Times – aren’t there any news worthy stories. What nerve for her to complain, my husband is on SS, and I work for a temp agency for $11/hour, with food and utilities, rent and gas we are just barely getting by. Unbelievable this person complains abut a taxi wait. We are paying for her taxi ride, her food, her clothes, medicaid. I have no insurance and have to pay full price for prescriptions (I make $.40 to much per hour to qualify for assistance) Struggle is a way of life, when are benefits going to be spread around for the working class. Tell the lady at Lincoln Terrace to get off her butt and get a job and enter the life cycle.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:07:08 +0000

My first questions is does she want sympanthy? Has she tried to get a job? would be my next question. I was also a single Mom. I worked every day to support myself and my son. I did without for us to have food on the table. We did not have mp3 or cell phones. WE COULD NOT AFFORD THEM. My money went for FOOD and house expense. I didn’t have another child because i could not afford them. I could have used a lot of the services that was out there, but i didn’t. I thought some one else needed it more than me. People like this needs to get off the system and go to work. I have seen many open positions at Hardees and Wendys. If you would get a job you might have health benefits. You wouldn’t be depressed if you worked 8 hours and came home and prepared your family meals, washed clothes and spent time educating your children. Get off the system!!!!

By: Karyn

Karyn — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:54:15 +0000

No one mentions in this article that there were stores in these areas, but had to close due to vandalism and theft. Welfare was meant to be short term assistance. Now we have GENERATIONS of people who know nothing else. How sad. My parents were not wealthy, they came from coal miners and farmers – they worked hard, long days so that their children may have a better life. They would not have accepted assistance even if they could have gotten it because it was for folks worse off than them.
GET OFF YOUR BUTTS. I get up and go to work. I have a good job – but if I needed to dig ditches or sling burgers I would. Because THAT is what you are supposed to do. Not sit on your butt and wait to be taken care of by me and the other hard working people I know. If I only got to keep what gets taken from my pay to support others.

By: Kari

Kari — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 17:48:34 +0000

I can’t believe the Roanoke Times printed this article and expected people to take it seriously. Was it a joke? Were readers supposed to feel sympathy for people who don’t have cars to get to the store or jobs to pay for what they buy there? It is infuriating that someone who receives free food every month would complain about having to wait for a taxi. Unbelievable. And she doesn’t work because she is depressed! I have no problem with helping those who are truly in need. My problem is with people who contribute absolutely nothing to society and drain taxpayer money only to harbor a sense of entitlement and the belief that they are “due” something.

Matt…I think you lost quite a bit of respect on Sunday. Maybe you should let more serious writers take over your duties for a while, so you can eat steak and shrimp with Ms. Detwiler. Spend some time looking at your paystubs in the meantime and remember that money was taken out of your pocket to support such nonsense.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:23:29 +0000

I just wanted to let you all know that I was very upset after reading this article. I feel like this is a slap in the face to us hard working people. I am a single mom that can not get any type of government assistance and I struggle week from week. I only wish I could spend $260 at the grocery store every month. And for one to complain on the wait for the cab when in fact it was their fault for missing the phone call. A $20 cab ride to get your free food should not be complained about. I have to put over $53 dollars in my vehicle each week to get me to and from work and to go to the grocery store. A lot of weeks I do not have the money to even go to Kroger or Walmart to buy my groceries. As far as a food desert I don’t live with in a mile to the local grocery store, but I have to take my personal money just like they do for my transportation. I do not see my family making the front page of the Sunday paper and two more pages, because I am part of the working society. One other part that angered me was in the pictures I notice that they are wearing new name brand shoes and listening to their MP3 player or cell phone. If you can afford the other luxuries in life then complaining about not living near a grocery store is uncalled for.