I know what you mean. You've convinced me. These are not stereotypes, these are truths that make none of them worthy of help from those of us who are better people with deserving children!
For example, they (who are "they" again?) did a survey once that claimed all car sales people were fast talking, money grubbing rip-off artists (and-what a surprise-they claimed many had terrible grammar and English speaking skills). If that were true, we could never safely buy a car again. Then they'd lose most of their incomes and start smoking! (I'm sure none of them do yet.) Then they'd have the nerve to come and ask us non-smoking grammarians for help with their children's school supplies!
Of course low income K-12th graders (that's who should pay for their situation, right?) smoke more than those who are privileged, so why should we help them earn an education which might help them earn a higher income and they'd eventually become non-smoking, productive adults, maybe even car salesmen. Horrors!

"Families in need of school supplies can register at the ECHO office, 65 S. High St., through Aug. 23, when the adult coming in must provide a photo ID and utility bill plus proof of household income, Maveety said."

MAybe you can trade the cigs for some school supplies. You can buy a lot of stuff if you trade the $6 a pack a day for some notebooks. Don't give me the crap that not all smoke. MOST do. They did a survey once. The low income families smoked the MOST!(highest percentage)

RUSerious and why_think: You've both expressed my sentiments better than I could myself. Too many people want kick those who are down and out for whatever reason. If ECHO says there is a need in this community, especially for our children, I don't question it, I ask, "What do you need?".

It piqued MY curiosity when I saw that, of 4 stories (Mars rover Curiosity costing billions, need for donations of used air conditioners for seniors, school supplies for children, and diapers for children in a safe haven), only the 2 relating to helping children had negative (or any) comments.
For the record, I'm committed to the "welfare" of helpless children, sympathetic to the plight of needy seniors, and fascinated by the prospects of what the Mars rover might see. I also know that only one of these specific items is more or less coming from our pockets involuntarily (NASA), the other three are politely asking for voluntary gifts.
I realize there might be some undeserving, self-serving adults behind the scenes here, but you'll probably find that in each of these scenarios and in all facets of life. But there are some truly deserving people who need our help, too.
Who among us are willing to sacrifice those deserving people (especially children!) so we don't accidentally help an undeserving person, and who will risk helping the shiftless just to make sure the deserving (especially children!) are helped?

Both of the "giving" articles have resulted in disappointing results.
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Too many people focus on those that may abuse the charity. The article about the shelter for abused women resulted in comments so filled with negative stereotypes (fat, lazy, poor, etc...) it turned my stomach.
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Yes, anything you give to is likely to involve some fraud and abuse. We all look to take advantage of situations as much as possible. It doesn't matter our current economic situation we will take advantage.
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When giving to a shelter for abused women or ECHO's school supply drive my belief is focus on the positive. There are plenty, the majority, of people using these services because of a real legit need. When you give, 9/10 times, you are truly helping someone.
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Of course, if you don't believe me there is one way to guarantee your donation isn't abused... donate your time. The next best is donate an item.
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It is frustrating to see so many people connecting the world charity to fraud.

Alright. The issue here is NOT the recall. The fact that you need to bring it up just shows sour grapes, both sides were wrong on different aspects of it so just let it go. This article is about helping with a need in our community, not bickering about recall money.
Also unfortunately there is a large segment of our community that DOES take advantage of the resources offered to them, but that doesn't mean that they all do. Some people truly need the help and feel bad about having to get it, not happy to be free loading. It's the poor and negative attitude that anyone who needs assistance is a deadbeat that is one of the biggest problems with this community. If more of the well off would help the underprivileged there might not be such a high need for assistance. I do think that there should be better guidelines and standards that should be upheld in the system. BUT all of those would require MORE MONEY to implement. Drug screening for those on assistance would be great, if they fail they lose their services and their kids get taken away and put in good homes, that would also traumatize the kids btw. Who will pay for the drug tests and the in between homes for the children. Or how about if you are on assistance you have to provide proof that you are looking for a job and went on interviews, a signed sheet by each employer who you interview with and you have to have so many interviews a month to keep getting help, because the help is meant to be TEMPORARY, but that would require more case workers to work more hours we can't pay for.
So I guess all in all, there is a fundamental lack of understanding on all sides. You can't fathom how someone could possibly need to be on assistance and think if you can't afford a kid don't have one because YOU were able to be a mother of the year so THEY should be able to. Well not everyone is as put together are you are, and for the record I have NO children of my own and I STILL can't make ends meet working full time and above minimum wage and without the extras or perks and I don't drink or smoke. But I guess I would be a dead beat to you because if I had a child I couldn't afford all the expensive things they need (which is why I don't have any).
The world would be a better place and our community a healthier one if people actually HELPED each other instead of complaining about political issues. I don't care about politics what I care about is the woman across the street who is crying on the front step because she lost her job and can't afford the child growing inside her. Or the children who don't have enough to eat or clean cloths to wear (NOT that they don't have expensive shoes or the best of supplies).
Do you care about people? Or money? Or even worse only yourself?

What's the big deal- if you have an extra 20.00- give. It's a good cause.

I think it's time to close this site !

"Nasty, stupid people, I hope you rot in your own pool of hate."
Shopierehuh--right back at ya there buddy!! Have a good night Mr. Happy:)

"Good grief. Do you not think bad things happen to people that had the best intentions when they decided to have children? If this is a representation of the kindness of S. Central WI, then you can have it all to yourself"

Relax westorbust! What people are getting fed up with is the fact that regardless of their intentions, that there is clearly a segment of people on assistance that consistently make poor decisions over and over and over and then expect(rightfully so because it happens every time) to be bailed out after every one of these decisions........The "we have to do it for the children" line gets seriously old when the parents receive state and federal assistance to cover every aspect of their lives, but do nothing to hold a job and have two dozen cases documenting their "interaction" with the law on CCAP as well.....

winterstinks: Kohl's just had a tax free weekend, and I know Staples also has a tax free day or two. There. Clothes and supplies tax free just like you wanted. Now shut up.

"If this is a representation of the kindness of S. Central WI, then you can have it all to yourself." westorbust@3:39pm

I hear you loud and clear and I agree, west. The people who are hurt from this stingyness is children. I have noticed a lot of this attitude on this site, there are some nasty, nasty people in this area. I wonder how many have considered coming here and see and read this nastyness from these people and just decide to shun the area. Nasty, stupid people, I hope you rot in your own pool of hate.

So even though this story just may be about those who TRULY NEED it, you direct your comment at those who abuse it. Got ya. Keep spreading the love...

Good grief. Do you not think bad things happen to people that had the best intentions when they decided to have children? If this is a representation of the kindness of S. Central WI, then you can have it all to yourself.

A "deadbeat" is one who does not fulfill their obligations. If someone has children they are obliged to support to them - not have others do it for them. Are there times when people are down & out & need help - I'll concede that, but I think there are a lot of people with smartphones, smoking habits, etc... that claim "need" and that's just plain taking advantage of those of you good hearted souls who donate to these programs & that outrages me. Amen Sandman!

No nicksmom, working hard and believing in personal responsibility doesn't make you an elitist. However, believing any parent who may need help with back to school supplies is a 'deadbeat', does.

HINT: Don't have kids if you can't afford them.

I'm a hard working, well educated woman who waited until financially stable to have a child. What a concept! Yes I believe in paying for things, not financing. Dave Ramsey 101: If you don't have cash to pay for something you can't afford it - this includes cars! What a concept! No wonder our country is in the dumper financially. When I didn't have money, I worked multiple jobs & didn't seek handouts. It's called personal responsibility. If that makes me elitist oh well. That's the mentality that creates this entitlement culture we live in & only serves to perpetuate the cycle of poverty in families generation after generation. "Oh, but it's for the children you big heartless meanie." Suckers!

Nicksmom - There could be a good chance that some of the people that are saying the supplies are too expensive may not have a job anymore and their unemployment may have run out. If that's the case, $.25 is a lot of money when you have none! Depending on what grade the kids are in, could completely change the amount of money needed to spend on their supplies. The older they are the more expensive their items are. If you're in a position to say the supplies aren't that much money, then congrats to you! But there are some in our area that just don't have the money to spare for school supplies.

I am just curious, but is this the same Patrick family that was also featured in an older article about poverty?
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2009/aug...
I hope they are doing a little better now.

KK -- The list says you need -- this and that... No note that says they will require its use or not, no note that last years is fine, -- and if the teacher uses the programmable function, which has sections in the instructional book -- assuming the teacher plans to use those sections...-- you do not have a copy of the cirriculum, you dont know what the intent was. Try programming a TI vs an HP. Two completely different animals. Its total disregard by the teachers for what the cost of the materials are. They simply dont care, its not their money. Thats the point. I swear they use a dart board and the calculator is just one item... it keeps going from there.

Once a kid enters high school, its a little different. Theres much more independence -- more latitude. But at the grade and middle school level -- its just not the same. I once respected teachers. I now havea distaste for many.

If you already have a calculator that performs all of the necessary functions why in the world would you go out and buy a second one just because a teacher included it on a list? The list itself doesn't force you to buy a new one.

Nicksmom also thinks anyone who can't pay cash for a car shouldn't be buying one so it's no surprise to see her say 'Free school supplies, free year round hot lunch - anything else we can do to help out you deadbeat parents?'

A deadbeat parent is one who doesn't have anything to do with their child, not one who simply can't afford the proper supplies for school. I feel sorry for your elitist thought process.

KK -- wrong -- fully functional calcs -- I know mathematics.... perform the same functions. They didnt even use the functionality of the calculatior last year, nor the programming, although every chapter included a lesson. The reality is teachers dont care -- t hey just make lists indepedently and force families to spend unnecessarily. Teachers are part of this problem by including rediculous requirements that are never used.

wislady,
Can you find a Fox News article or Breitbart.com article to varify that claim.

If you have things from last year that are included on this year's list obviously you don't have to go out and buy them again. If one teacher needs calculator A and the next needs calculator B it is probably because not all calculators have the same functions. They are not all created equally.

Walter, RU, don't burden nicksmom with information contrary to her stereotypes. It only confuses her.

One problem is teachers..... They sit down and just make lists. Last years list included calculator A, fully functional, programmable yada yada... This year a different teacher. Wants calculator B. Another $100 per. Its a joke. They want tissues, yada - yada .. They make rediculous lists in some cases with no regard for anyone. Its like a christmas list. Obviously, some items are needed. But we have a treasure trove of things from last year and the teacher lists are completely different and do not take into consideration past years.

..and not only that, nicksmom implies that it might take a buck or 2 to fill a backpack...including the backpack. Perhaps nick ought to show his mom this year's supply list.
And if this list won't break the bank for you, and you can't imagine it would for others unless they're deadbeats, then you shouldn't have even bothered reading this story because your preconceived notions would have made your comments...just what they were.
Oh, and for the record nicksmom, it is entirely possible that for some people circumstances could have changed drastically from the day little Jack or Jill was conceived and the day he enters 8th grade.

nicksmom,
Perhaps we should take those kids away from their deadbeat parents and make them suffer further for the parents' mistakes. Then we, the taxpayers, could be fully responsible for all of that child's expenses. 40 hours at minimum wage grosses less than $300. Pretty tough to feed a family on that much much less clothe the kids and buy their school supplies. Perhaps the parent is a divorced single mother who was laid off and could only find part time employment at low wages. It's really easy to come up with scenarios to judge even though they may be far from the truth. It's a little harder to do the right thing and donate. Are you the type of person that sits back and takes the easy way out?

"Everything is just so expensive," she said. Seriously? Lol. It's school supplies. You can usually buy crayons, glue, notebooks etc. for $.01 - $.25 - check any sale ad. So beyond tired of hearing of people who chose to have children that they can't afford. Free school supplies, free year round hot lunch - anything else we can do to help out you deadbeat parents?

At one time teachers use to help out and that was a big help to the less fortunate, With cuts and other recently added expenses, they are not in a position to help as they once did. I applaud ECHO on all the work they do in the community.

This has nothing to do with article, All the important articles have had their comment section disabled. Most likely because of ignorant comments as some have no clue as to sensitivity in certain situations.I am surprised that the Beloit shooting article did not have pictures of Suspects as all news channels did.

Winterstinks...I thought you were leaving our fine state of Wisconsin? Just wondering...glad to have you here.Maybe some of your southern charm will rub off on a few of us.

What a couple of morons to take an issue like this and turn into something political. There has always been a shortage of school supplies even before the recall. I can remember giving supplies and trying to fill a semi full 7 years ago. Was there a recall then? Give until it hurts and quit the blame game. I can fidn fault on the right as well as the left.

Silly to make recall an issue here....step up to the plate and help. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that all of us can make a huge difference in helping - even if it's just one item.

And I'm sure the money would have been spent for school supplies! You only show how silly you really you are.

Oblamer
Yes, the recall money would have gone a long ways...not only in schools, but in helping the homeless in Wisconsin. What a waste.

Moronic statement.