Woman with lupus steals baby formula to feed her children

[Charlemagne]

Example of what trickle down bull has done to small town USA. The news story is a few weeks old (sorry, the paper just got it up on the website. They are slow about that) but it is about a woman with lupus who was caught stealing baby formula from the grocery store for her children. This happened in my town: New Carlisle, Ohio.

http://newcarlislenews.net/index.php/news/1-latest-news/1707-theft-turns-into-charity.html


On Thursday, December 23rd, the Clark County Sheriff’s Office was called regarding a shoplifting attempt at Howard’s IGA on Main Street in New Carlisle. When they got to the store the employees had Amber Jo Hale, 27 in custody, who they accused of trying to take cans of baby formula. While Deputies Chad Eubanks and Joe Johnson were questioning Amber, she told them that she had lupus, her husband had recently left her and she had three children to feed which two were still on baby formula.

Amber said she was unable to get any kind of work due to her medical condition. The deputies believed that she was stealing out of need rather than want. At that time Deputy Eubanks bought her four cans of formula and IGA matched his gift with four additional cans. “She didn’t have anything,” Eubanks said. “It’s my little part I can do to help her out.” Hale was still cited for a misdemeanor theft charge

This is the social Darwinist legacy of the free market uber alles republicans. People cant afford to feed their children.

[RebelOne]

1. Kudos to that deputy and IGA.

But she is still going to have to go to court and pay a fine.

[Warpy]

7. This story is so appalling that I can't imagine a judge levying a fine

He'd be hounded off the bench pretty quickly. What he might do is put out a warrant for the ex, find out why he's not supporting his children.

[haele]

21. Love IGA's. Most are plugged into their community needs...

Almost every single IGA I've ever shopped at might not have the best or the fanciest produce, but they usually have the basics at a reasonable price for the community - and most will work with people in need - including turning a blind eye at needy people "dumpster diving" for the produce the stores have to dispose of before it goes bad.
The one in my old neighborhood used to set out the older produce in boxes "overnight" at closing on the loading dock, watched over by the store cats, before whatever might be left went into the dumpster the next morning before the store opened.

Haele

[KamaAina]

22. Yes! I'd like to see more of them turn up in urban "food deserts".

a MUCH better option than mini-Sprawl-Marts.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Horrible thing. Capitalism is darwinist. That's why it has to be regulated, controlled, and

overseen.

[Frosty1]

3. How utterly sad.

[Blue_Tires]

4. uh, that husband who ran out on three little kids and an ill wife

needs to be named...

[Zalatix]

10. Is this an attempt to harass the guy? Kangaroo court style?

[deucemagnet]

5. I just noticed that our local grocery keeps baby formula locked up.

If that isn't a sign of the times, I don't know what is.

ETA: Props to the deputy and the IGA for showing some humanity.

[newfie11]

8. so does our safeway

[msanthrope]

20. It's not really a sign of the times--Baby formula, diapers, razors, and cigarettes all have high

resale value.

[MuseRider]

9. I wish I had an address.

Perhaps I could write the store. I would supply her with formula for several months or more. Does anyone know if that kind of thing works?

I hope they catch this ex of hers and shame him and take what is needed for those poor children.

EDIT:I have an address and phone #. I am going to call them and see if they will work with me and get her some food.

[Zalatix]

11. Or better yet a stay at home job?

[haele]

17. Lupis is nasty - sometimes the person can't even get out of bed.

She needs to be on disability where she can get a supplimental for the kids as well as for herself. She'll also probably need help as the disease progresses.
If she does have Lupis, she doesn't have to worry about making more than the minimum to keep SSDI...

Immune system disorders are just as crippling as paralysis or a severe heart condition. The worst part of having an immune system disorder like Lupis (or Fibromyalgia, which my husband suffers from), is that you can have an occasional "good day" or even a "good week", so everyone thinks you're faking it when you say you can't keep a job. Or worse, they come up with all sorts of naturalpathic or vegitarian Dr. Oz style "help" - help that might work for people that don't already have a severe immune system problem - but once it has you in it's grips, that old "diet and exercise routine" just can't make you better, no matter how many superfoods or all natural veggies you consume or how much red meat, dairy, or gluten your avoid. So of course, it's you're fault you're sick, and won't get any better, because you just won't eat sensibly and exercise...

No matter how healthy you were before you got an immune system disorder.


Haele

[dana_b]

23. thank you

that previous poster has no idea of how painful and disabling lupus can be. My mother had been denied disability because she looked "healthy" to others. Ultimately it took her life 19 years ago last month.

[MuseRider]

27. RA here and you are exactly right about this.

I did not see your reply before I responded above or I could have left it alone. Thank you from all of us dealing with an auto immune disease who have to deal with people who can't see you are miserable and hold you to every single thing they think you should always be able to do.

[Zalatix]

28. Oh yeah, I didn't even ask what stage this was...

I've got a relative with SLE. She recovered on Prednizone but dang, the COPD, the neuropathic itching, and the rest of the hell she went through before they diagnosed it, was unbelievable.

She also got on SSDI and from what I understand it was right AFTER the administration decided Lupus was a genuine long term crippling disease. That was in the early 2000's.

My relative is in remission and got a Government job through Ticket to Work. No way she'd try to get a private sector job.

[MuseRider]

26. Better than what?

Lupus can be very debilitating and taking care of 3 children alone is a full time job.

Her scumbag of a husband should be ashamed and held responsible for his children even if she is working.

[DURHAM D]

12. Please update us if you make contact and we can help.

[Charlemagne]

13. PM me and let me know waht the IGA says

[Mojorabbit]

18. PM me if I can help. I will be glad to donate to the cause. nt

[MuseRider]

14. I contacted the IGA and here is what I found out.

There have been a few locals in who bought cans for her and one person who bought a case of the formula for her. The WICK office only offers liquid because it is cheaper but her infant would not drink it. The Clark County Sheriffs office is who you would need to contact because the store has no information for Amber. The store manager, who was surprised to hear the story had gotten out beyond their county, was flabbergasted and God Blessed us all . He was so very kind as were the deputies who bought her some as well.

He says she is now connected with social workers and they are acting for her with WICK and other organizations that can help. I am not certain where to go from this point. If she is going to get what she needs for herself and her children then that is great but is she really going to get what she needs? I don't know. Anyone with experience with this kind of thing know if it is only going to be a simple little bit or if she will be able to feed and clothe her children well?

The Clark County Sheriffs office is who you would need to call and I do not have that number yet. I do need to go so if someone else does this before I get back I will join back in and get what she needs to her. If not I will call later and see what is up. There are thousands of stories like this, we need to watch for them.

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. formula is expensive. kudos to the deputy and IGA for helping her out.

[AtomicKitten]

16. Heartbreaking.

I do hope this woman is encouraged by the help she got and I hope she asks for help as long as she needs it. Kudos to those who were able to discern need in this instance.

[LeftinOH]

19. Men who abandon the children they've produced are scum.

Utter scum.

[Zalatix]

29. Anyone who abandons the children they've produced are scum.

[madmom]

24. Just curious, New Carlisle is just outside of Dayton, is this boner's district?

[MuseRider]

25. I am on the road

and will not be back into town until late tonight. Has anyone an answer to my previous post about the adequacy of WICK and social services in these circumstances? I will be happy to call the county sheriffs office tomorrow if someone else does not if this is not going to be an adequate response to Amber's situation.

[Nevernose]

30. They keep it behind locked glass cases here

At least they do in the neighborhoods I frequent.

When I worked for juvenile probation, I had a kid come in who'd been on parole for two weeks (he was seventeen). Attempted murder. Before that, there were home invasions, assaults with a deadly weapon, cocaine dealing, you name it.

So he's in my office on a misdemeanor theft charge and the DA's initial reaction is to yank his parole and send him back, maybe even see about certifying him as an adult and moving him into the next system.

I start reading the details of the crime, namely the items stolen: baby formula, diapers, bottles. Turns out his mom was a meth addict and he was stealing this stuff for his infant sister. We let him go; a kid like that has enough going against him, especially when he turns eighteen in a few months.

Even for a kid with a record like that -- what kind of asshole arrests someone for stealing baby formula?

[Ilsa]

31. She could ask area hospitals for some free formula until she gets on WIC.

A lot of them still provide free formula for née moms if they haven't signed on to the newer Mother-Baby Breastfeeding Initiatives.

Local food banks usually carry powdered formula, too. She should also call her WIC office pronto.

[Charlemagne]

32. There is a women's center in town

New Carlisle Women's Network
468 Dayton Lakeview Road
New Carlisle, OH 45344
937-845-0900

There is a WIC office too, but the women's center does a lot to help women and families through the process. If anyone really wants to help out, this is probably the best way.

[jwirr]

33. Hopefully he did one more thing: Gave her the directions to Social Services - if this is the whole

story she is eligible for a lot of help.