When I was very young (until about age 5) our family was poor. Money was always tight. But we had love in our home, humble as it was. Mom and Dad both worked to make ends meet. The thing was we always seemed to have something to eat. Might not be much, but we had something.
I remember the boxes of government surplus food we'd get. Peanut butter, powdered eggs and powdered milk. There was butter, something called oleo, and other staples. I was too young to understand that my parents had to humble themselves and go pick up these boxes. I just thought everyone got them. I remember the powdered good the most. You don't forget the difference in taste of a gallon of Borden's homoginized milk and the powdered stuff! It's kinda like the difference between Nabisco Saltines and Great Value crackers, you KNOW there is something wrong with the picture! Powdered eggs are a whole other story. They taste good to me. They were hot, and they were filling. That was all that mattered to me back then!
My favorites from that big box were the peanut butter and that wonderful cheese! Never has a better sandwich been made than a grilled cheese sandwich made with govenment surplus cheese! I wish I had one now. (Hold the powdered milk, please.)
Government surplus goods got my family through many a hard time. Like I said, money was tight. But the meals prepared with these items were more than just a meal. They were mama's way of serving up love for her family. I realize now that Dad never wanted to have to take charity from the government, but he did the best he could. The program was created for people who needed help. WE needed help. After I turned about six or seven the powdered goods and things just went away and never returned. (Shout out to the late Calvin R. Starnes who gave my mother a better paying job and helped us out tremendously!)
Did we have hard times? For sure. Did we have lean times? Yep. But did we somehow make it? Absolutely! My parent's willingness to do whatever it took to feed us and let us know we were loved was undeniable. THAT was my childhood.
Now where's my grilled cheese and eggs?!