Remember this picture when you take more than you need...

[Dennis Donovan]

Link to tweet

[zackymilly]

1. That just pisses me off.

I hope whoever took this picture was able to help this woman.
This brings tears to my eyes for real.

[HotTeaBag]

4. I hope so too, but it brings to mind a line from a Police song,

"too many cameras and not enough food".

[SergeStorms]

16. Not everyone....

but about 42% of the nation who are republican, or republican leaning independents right now. However, they truly DO ruin everything for the rest of us.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

3. No words...

[True Blue American]

5. The one day I went out for a few items

I had to clear a path for a terrified little old lady. But shoppers were nice when I asked them.

I had several offers of help in the store, even in the Parking lot. Friendly little city here. We all help each other. First Responders are wonderful.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

8. That was kind of you! I haven't seen anyone in dire straits like that...

I'll use you for inspiration if I do.

[True Blue American]

9. I am probably older than she.

That is my inspiration.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

12. I hear ya... I'm no spring chicken myself but I'm spryer than some my age.

[True Blue American]

13. All that

Exercise paying off.

Am exercising sitting in my chair. I do miss the pool. Ordered a new bathing suit yesterday to be prepared! Big sale!

Gave away all my equipment.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

29. Good for you! Fingers crossed...

I have not been seen in a bathing suit since 1995 LOL.

[True Blue American]

49. They have amazing ones today!:)

But that pool keeps my legs functioning. The machines and an older Trainer put me back on my feet after a bad intestinal illness. The machines were getting hard on my legs. Took me 2 years to get up nerve. But no one even looks at you.

[Jane Austin]

81. That's right.

And if you go to the Y or a place like that, you are NOT going to be the one in the worst shape there.

I promise.

And if you are huge fat, everyone will think you are wonderful for getting or staying at it.

[True Blue American]

82. At least

You know they are trying. If I get the chance I make a point of making them feel welcome.

There is an early morning class of Seniors led by a Physical Therapist. Also a Therapy pool for the disabled. Silver Sneakers has been great for Seniors as more Medicare Advantage plans have it.

[calimary]

104. Thank you for that, True Blue!

Thank you.

[barbtries]

6. that's heartbreaking.

i promise I won't.

[True Blue American]

7. Dishwashing section.

[Blue_true]

75. Someone here on DU pointed out that dish soap has been

shown to kill the virus on hands.

I just don't understand why people hoard. I bet that the same people leading that charge think that Trump is the greatest.

[TheBlackAdder]

101. I hypothesized that Dawn could break down the oil layer on virus, exposing it. No scientific proof!

.

I posted/wondered if some Dawn, added in combination with alcohol, would make it more effective.

Then, I wondered if Dawn would get in the way of the alcohol.

.

[Blue_true]

107. In terms of virus killing, adding some alcohol to anti-bacteria soap should work,

though the alcohol would reduce the sudsing power of the dish detergent, so people that need to see lots of suds would be disappointed.

[MagickMuffin]

10. And to think she lived through the Great Depression,

except back then the government rationed food and other essentials.

[True Blue American]

19. Sugar, gas, tires

Auto plants making tanks. Now they are making ventilators. American Auto plants. You know, the ones we bailed out?

Karma again.

[Mr.Bill]

31. The ones that Romney and

so many other politicians didn't want bailed out.

[George II]

33. Actually the reason they rationed gasoline wasn't to save gasoline itself, it was to save tires....

....the rubber was more important than gasoline. Supplies of rubber was cut off.

It was during WWII that synthetic rubber was developed to replace natural rubber.

[True Blue American]

46. Yes, George,

I remember, but the gas was badly needed to get to work. Tires could be patched. No new cars.

The demand was huge after the war.

[George II]

48. I was born three years after the war ended.

[True Blue American]

50. Both my Dad

And future Husband were in it. Wounded on Omaha Beach at 18. I. Was a child.

[Bengus81]

93. My dad sold his car before heading off to WWII

It was old and worth little but the guy only wanted it for the five tires.

[True Blue American]

94. Mine put his up

On blocks to save the tires. He had been lucky enough to get a job at the Defense plant, then the railroad. We finally had a 38 Ford!

[efhmc]

103. Just read on Twitter from a Ford auto worker that they are NOT making ventilators.

DJT lies again.

[katmondoo]

22. I lived through the depression and the 2nd World war. The shortages looks more like the war.

Nothing in the stores, rationing but still lots of items not available until the war ended. To this day I cannot eat margarine. Before we added the coloring it looked exactly like Crisco. It was my job to mix the coloring into the margarine. I would never eat it and to this day margarine turns my stomach. Worse than the depression as far as food items available.

[True Blue American]

53. That Godawful

White stuff with an orange packet you mixed in to make it yellow.

Balogna 10 cents a Lb.

[erronis]

57. They tried calling it "variety meats" since it was the crap from the floor of the slaughter-houses

that didn't work very well, so terms like "bologna", "hot-dogs", "salami" were used. Same old scrapple to get the mom's to buy and the kids to eat.

[True Blue American]

60. Balogna for us

It tasted good when I was a kid and young. Tastes awful today.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

36. There was no rationing during the Great Depression.

People just didn't have the money to buy stuff.

There was rationing during WWII.

[True Blue American]

55. He did not say there was.

He said he lived through the depression, but there was rationing. No one had any money to buy anything.. that is rationing.

We never went hungry because my Grandfather and Dad had a farm. Those people helped each other.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

67. Yes, did say there was.

Go back and reread post #10.

And being unable to buy something is really not the same as rationing.

[True Blue American]

83. Tell that to the person

Who can not afford it.

It might be wise to listen to those left who experienced the depression than nit picking their posts.

Excuse me for posting this but History from those still living is important.

You have to experience something to really understand .i well remember sitting in front of that big Crosley radio listening to FDR give his day of infamy speech. No matter how little you were you were scared.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

85. Not being able to afford is NOT the same as rationing. And if you think it is,

you have a profound misunderstanding of the two words.

Rationing means you are only allotted a specific amount of things. In WWII it was stuff like sugar, eggs, gasoline.

Or maybe I should ask you, what exactly was rationed during the Depression? And what were the coupons or mechanisms that determined how much of which things you could buy?

In rationing, no matter how much money you had, you couldn't purchase any more of the rationed commodities than anyone else could. Which is vastly different from buying only what you could afford.

There was no rationing during the Great Depression.

[True Blue American]

87. You are

Doing the same thing, but since you seem to just want to argue I am too old to argue with you.

[Bluedolphin1406]

98. They are right about the definition...

...of rationing. You are wrong. There is no argument of being too old to argue. You are being old and stubborn.

[shanti]

78. Right, not every area was greatly affected by the Depression

My mother was born in So Cal in 1932, but she grew up on a farm, and really didn't experience the full brunt of the Depression. They had a cow, chickens, citrus groves and a large garden. The ocean was 5 miles away, plenty of sea food. Having a large extended family close by sure didn't hurt.

[True Blue American]

84. You were poor

You just did not realize it as everyone you knew was in the same shape. And welfare? No way!

[DENVERPOPS]

63. There certainly wasn't any

rationing of money to the Uber Wealthy. Much of the extreme wealth in the United states was compiled during the great depression AND during the second world war........

[True Blue American]

86. You do know

About the crash of 1929 where fortunes were lost over night. Men committed suicide. Banks closed.

There was no protection for the small saver. Of course there were crooks, just like the one in the WhiteHouse now complaining that no one thanked him for giving up his salary while he spent millions on his weekly golf trips.

[Bengus81]

95. There was also no regulations in the Markets

Guys like Joe Kennedy who had rich Presidents of Corporations for friends everywhere could and did get insider info to sell--which most of the smart money did back in June-Sept of 29 and it was 100% legal.

The main problem was letting the small mom and pop investors buy stock on margin. They kept running prices up on air until it couldn't sustain itself.

[Midnight Writer]

11. I helped an older gentleman the other day reach a high shelf, and he freaked out.

I didn't realize it at the moment, but I was in his space. He was not appreciative.

[StarryNite]

14. Yikes

I guess that one falls under the category of 'no good deed goes unpunished'.

[Midnight Writer]

17. I was actually thinking "What is this guy's problem?" when it struck me. I was his problem.

[True Blue American]

20. No, he was his problem

Not you. You were being kind.

[Meowmee]

28. Someone offered to help me

With things on a high shelf and I said no, please stay 3-6 feet away from me, I am high risk.
People need to really do the social distancing.

[luvtheGWN]

64. Up here in the GWH

our Prime Minister has changed the term to "physical distancing" - a bit more descriptive, I think. Social distancing can also mean "Don't talk to me".

[Meowmee]

69. Sounds better, maybe people will get it then 😊 nt

[Mr.Bill]

34. I was at the check-out at the grocary store

And a twenty-something guy was standing very close behind me in line. I politely asked him if he could back off and create a little space between us, and he said "Why don't you back off, you wrinkly old piece of shit?"

He did back off eventually. I just shook my head, knowing his problem was far greater than mine.

[leighbythesea2]

73. What the

What a horrid human. He must have issues.

[True Blue American]

88. I would have pity for that guy

Except there are too many just like him.

I used to walk and this 7 or 8 year old boy decided to sing song, Old Lady, old lady. I was not that old. A few years later I was walking the same route. He came out of the house, looked at me. I have never seen such a shamed face on a teen.

[randr]

15. Saw a pic somewhere of a store with a solution

1 bottle of hand sanitizer was like $5
2 bottles cost $95

[SergeStorms]

18. I like that idea!

But there would still be a good number of republicans who's still buy the two bottles.

[True Blue American]

21. They are cracking down on gouging here.

[llmart]

24. We have some good people in our country...

but we've got a hell of a lot of self-centered assholes also.

The grocery chains need to find a way to ration the necessities. I've been in a large store four times this past week and not once did they have anything on the shelves that resembled what people need - t.p., paper towels, napkins, rubbing alcohol, even the paper plates were all gone. WTF? Why is there such a run on paper products? Target had a sign on the rubbing alcohol shelves that said "4 per customer". I was standing at one end of the aisle and a youngish couple, man and woman, said to one another, "I'll take 4 and pay for it on my card and you take 4 and pay for it on your card. That way we'll have 8." I wanted to strangle her.

We're going to need ration booklets like WWII had if this keeps up. My 82-year old neighbor told me that she witnessed a fist fight in the toilet paper aisle last week. I had no words.

[Blue_true]

77. A fist fight over toilet paper. WTF is wrong with people? nt

[True Blue American]

89. I was going through self service on

My one trip to the grocery. A middle aged man had 4 32 bottle packs of water. The poor tiny clerk had to carry 2 back. The sign said 2 per customer.

I have not gone back out. I am in good shape thanks to prior sales.

[Faux pas]

25. ...

[wendyb-NC]

26. What a heart breaking testimony

to what the effects of a few greedy people.

[Thekaspervote]

27. Oh that is just heart breaking!

[2naSalit]

30. Absolutely the image of this fucking regime! ...nt

[Mr.Bill]

35. Not just their image,

it's their goal and purpose.

[2naSalit]

37. Without a doubt. ...nt

[Meowmee]

32. So sad

Here many of the stores are open an hour early now for over 65 and high risk people so they can get what they need. Meat and some other things had limits. At this point I really wonder what is going on with these empty shelves and if it is a supply issue. It is sad she does not have family or a friend to help her. I am doing all the shopping and will not let my father go out at all now.

They are closing a lot earlier though which I think is a mistake they should stay open and have less
people in the stores.

[2naSalit]

38. Store staff needs a break too. ...nt

[Meowmee]

40. They can hire out of work people to work the normal hours they were usually open nt

[2naSalit]

56. Right. ...nt

[Traildogbob]

39. The GOP Jesus

Would have hoarded the fish and bread all to himself and ran away shouting “Go Trump, go Trump” like the asshole at the Dollar Store yesterday that took all the paper towels, toilet paper and napkins.

[certainot]

41. just remember this did not have to happen if we had a sane pres who had acted

when it was first starting and we were getting the warnings and orange dumbshit hadn't abolished the pandemic response prograams

the other thing to remember is the stupid motherfucking limbaugh still telling 15 mil a day as late as the week of march 13 that is was all blown up to hurt trump and force big govt socialist solutions on us.

in related news dumbass dittohead and pretend 'independent' rand paul apparently tested positive

[erronis]

59. Blaming the press for this one? Seems like a broad brush.

Oh... I just realized I read "pres" incorrectly.

Yes, the pseudo-pres is responsible. His enablers (repuglicons, deplorables, oligarchs/plutocrats) are responsible.

[lark]

42. MF*ing hoarders!

My friends in Los Banos CA are having to drive 4 hours to get paper goods inc of course tp, canned, frozen. Even in Fremont, their friend didn't think she'd be able to get them 99% rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, gloves or masks.

[iluvtennis]

43. Heartbreaking. Saw that last night. This little old lady was at Dollar Tree. nt

[KY_EnviroGuy]

44. Wish I had been there to help and talk to her.

That rollator isn't going to hold much and she can't reach many items in her condition.

She needs a helper to let her sit in the rollator while pushing her around and put her groceries in a regular cart....

[radius777]

45. Gov't has to take control of the situation.

In an emergency darwinian instincts take over, and people can't be expected to 'do the right thing' because most won't.

The gov't needs to take an active role in this: identify which items are in short supply, have the companies double/triple production of those items, enforce limits on how many items people can buy at one time, etc. The cops and/or national guard should be placed in and around stores and supermarkets to prevent price gouging, hoarding and theft (people are stealing items from the carts of older people, women, etc).

We hear very little about this issue on the news, only that 'everything is ok with supplies', yet the shelves are stripped bare of the essentials in most stores, even in large metro areas.

[Demovictory9]

47. sad

[C Moon]

51. The people who were hoarding would have pushed her out of the way.

[FM123]

52. Shameful. Those who do this to our most vulnerable members of society

should not be able to call themselves human beings.

[Ananda62]

54. This is heartbreaking!

[OhioChick]

58. I'm in tears

[erronis]

61. I have several people on my meal delivery routes that are very similar

They want to be as independent as possible with overwhelming physical disabilities.

To get to the grocery store and maneuver their cart (frequently with oxygen) through the stores/aisles is incredible.

I love all of these people and hate to see them harmed by callous, greedy people. I'm not saying these people are probably t(r)umpists, but I'll bet.

[dewsgirl]

62. Heartbreaking.💔😭

[rainin]

65. As usual, we're attacking each other instead of directing our anger at the rich

The rich knew long before they told us. They could have predicted this and put limits on purchasing. We don't know if the shelves went empty because of you and me. I think they went empty because of people buying out stock to resell.

[we can do it]

71. Greed is greed. Greedy people suck period.

[True Blue American]

96. I consider

The hoarder in the same box with the greedy wealthy.

Mitch tried to push through his slush fund. Democrats are not buying. Mitch is furious. He is not dealing with Paul Ryan this time. And maybe a few Republicans have woke, as they say.

[keithbvadu2]

66. She was too slow.

She was too slow.

[mzmolly]

68. :(

[highplainsdem]

70. Heartbreaking.

[bucolic_frolic]

72. I never sweep the shelf

I may bring them home with both hands, buy 2 or 3, but I don't like to take the last one. Last week I saw ONE five pound bag of whole wheat flour in the five stores I visited. I didn't buy it. I have 11 pounds on hand, which strikes me as light for the 2+ month estimate I'm living under, but I thought ... someone else may need that. I'm good for now. So I bought 2 pounds of rice instead.

[handmade34]

74. at store today...

I came out from an aisle and saw an older woman in a motorized cart, stopped, her head down, with her hand over her head... I approached her carefully and asked if she was ok... she slowly looked up and "yes, I'm just tired of all this"

your picture reminds me of this

[Olafjoy]

76. Was at the store

There were 2 boxes of cracked pepper Triscuits left on shelf. I took both cuz kids at home. Another lady walked up and saw empty shelf, looked sad. Gave her 1 of the boxes. Everyone happy 😊

[Cha]

79. Some stores are Rationing NOW.. Thank Goodness!

[Raine]

80. Literally brings tears

to my eyes I wish I put my arms around her and give her whatever she needs.

[Aussie105]

90. I've been hoarding!

But only stuff others haven't thought of yet.
Cat food - 3 week supply hoarded. Dog food, same.

Toilet paper? Meh, about 8 rolls left, no panic just yet. But I still look at the shelves just in case there is a stray one there.

Walking past the near empty meat displays, and look at the prices. All I can say 'Thanks wife for deciding we both need to go vegetarian!'

Fast food addicts and inner city latte sippers must be hurting though. Everything shut down here in Adelaide South Australia mid day today. Supermarkets and pharmacies only to be open.

Actually - it's not unknown for some supermarkets to have employees who know about a secret back room store of in-short supply stuff like toilet paper. Ask nicely, and you may get one roll to go into a shopping bag, no questions asked, no payment taken.
Worth asking, but only if you are REALLY desperate.

[DFW]

91. No different here in Germany

Unfortunately.

[Bengus81]

92. I was at a Walmart Market place yesterday

That's what that place looked like. Walmart could easily limit only two of certain things but they don't.

[Joinfortmill]

97. oh, my

[Dukkha]

99. A lot of blame goes to the stores themselves

For not imposing rations and limiting quantities that customers can buy.

[llmart]

100. +1

Plus limiting their supplies within reason. The 4 bottles of rubbing alcohol per person was not "rationing" as far as I'm concerned.

They're still profit driven and that's their main focus. This is what happens when we value money over people, and ours is a society that is all about the money and stuff.

[CousinIT]

102. I have SEEN this is stores recently. It's why I have been CRAZY telling people not to hoard!

It broke my heart in two and i've seen this at least 5 times in the past two weeks. If I could help, I would but what would I do? I can't buy it for them because there's none to buy!

These people can't careen around store to store to find what they need. They're not online. They don't shop online. They go to their local store. That's it. And they are most at risk with COVID19 or any respiratory illness or virus. Their immune systems are weak.

And what are they supposed to do? When people hoard, this is who they're keeping essential supplies from.

Ug.

[Stuart G]

105. Thank You for the picture...k and r

[StarzGuy]

106. I may not be quite that affirmed but..

… at 65 plus several underlying conditions that put me in the most vulnerable population I've made two trips to Safeway and thus far these isles continued to be stripped; paper products, distilled water (needed for my CPAP machine), personal care products that can be used for the virus, even the cereal isle was nearly stripped especially the shelf that contained larger family sized packaging.

I can't find distilled water anywhere. CVS none even Amazon none.

I've given up seeking these items for now. I may try to visit Safeway on one or both of those "special times for seniors" Tuesday's and Thursday's from 6 to 9 am.

But, man, being retired for 10 years now, it is a struggle to wake up that early. Not to mention the struggles I have when I do wake up just to get up from my recliner. I have to sleep in my recliner because I have difficulty breathing other wise. Also peripheral neuropathy in both feet and hands...

Unfortunately, I have been socially distancing ever since I became seriously ill and forced to retire. On the brighter side, I'm still here!!!

[highplainsdem]

108. So sorry to hear about all the health problems. As for shopping -- yes, you should try to get to

the store during the early hours for seniors only.

I did that today at a local supermarket and saw toilet paper in the store for the first time in a while. I got there with only 20 minutes left in the hour and saw TP in at least half the shopping carts. I didn't need any myself, but I made my way to that aisle out of curiosity, saw they were limiting shoppers to two packages, and saw only two packages were left. Both were on the top shelf, shoved so far back they'd have been out of reach and possibly out of sight of many shoppers. I'm tall, so I moved both packages to the front of the shelf (but left them on that shelf to avoid confusng any shopper about the price).

Can you use boiled water in your CPAP machine?

Okay, I just checked this myself and the American Sleep Apnea Association says boiled water is safe to use, at least for short periods of time:

https://www.sleepapnea.org/treat/cpap-therapy/us-travel-tips-for-cpap-users/

If you have the luxury of taking your own bottle of distilled water, do so. If you are packing light, you can buy water at your destination. Although distilled water is preferred for longevity of your equipment, using tap water for short periods of time will not be harmful to you or your water chamber.

[tiptonic]

109. Spoiled Americans

I can here my 'repulsive/republican' friends now. 'She needs to get a job'.