Braised Lambchop
a nurse trying to work while suffering with chronic pain - she rambles a bit

I have a little more on the story below about one of our county commissioner candidate's idea to have a regional food bank donate its wares to the county jail. Since this is an update, the headline above will take you to the website of the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, which does great work here to feed hungry children and their hungry parents.

After I posted here, I also wrote a letter to the editor of the local newspaper explaining that the scheme is unworkable. I did not bring up in my letter the issues with Wal-Mart and their manager, and the complications possible from that arrangement; I felt that one issue at a time was enough. I copied the development director of the CFBEO, Karen Senger. I sent the letter by email.

Friday afternoon, Karen Senger emailed me back. She complimented me on my knowledge of the purpose and mission of the food bank, and on my explanation of the problems with the plan. She also said that Bill Trower, the infamous candidate, had not contacted the food bank at all to discuss his idea with them. Ms. Senger asked for the URI of the article so the executive staff there could see it and do follow-up, because Trower clearly did not understand the mission of their organizations or the IRS regulations that prevent them from giving food to a government agency such as a county jail. She also told me she would keep me updated on the issue. I complied with her request.

Later that afternoon, I received another email from Ms. Senger. She told me she had just hung up the telephone from a conversation with Mr. Trower, in which the first words out of his mouth after she had identified herself were, "Please don't tell me I'm wrong." She went on to explain the problem of hunger here in Oklahoma and the IRS prohibition on schemes such as his.

I'll sum up the details of the conversation this way:

Senger: Who told you this was possible?

Trower: Several people who work for charities told me it would work.

Senger: Which people?

Trower: I don't remember. Well, maybe they (emphasis added) assumed it would work.

Senger: Yes, maybe they did assume.

Trower: Maybe I should have talked to you first.

Senger: Yes, maybe you should have.

So, now Mr. Trower knows that he can't do that, and she asked me to notify them if he talks about it again. I'm asking you to keep your eyes open too, since I know I have several Oklahoma readers who follow politics.

So, one more bad, GOoPy idea down. Sixteen thousand, forty-five or so left to go. (Sigh.)

I'll keep you posted.