Final Proposal

Rocket Power: Megan Awad, Jenna Fulks,

Phuong Phan, and Amanda Vacca
 Problem
Should an appropriate amount of
resources be given to households
with members who do not have
information in the Society of St.
Vincent de Paul System?
For example, a family with 4 members in the system has recently gained 3 more
members residing with them for an indefinite time. The head of the household
does not have any identification of those 3 new members. In spite of the fact that
they cannot be entered into the system without proper paperwork, should the
family be given food for 7 people or 4 people?
Step 0: Values and Initial Thoughts
Faith and service
It is important to serve those who are in need and help them achieve a better quality of life
A society is defined by how it treats the neediest, those who are often overlooked
Family
Family is a very important and trying to help them is crucial
The individual who is trying to get additional food may be trying to help family members who
are also in need.
Compassion and understanding
When people fall into situations in which their basic needs (food) are not met, they can do all
that is necessary to achieve them. However, it is important for us to be empathetic, listen to
them, and help them the best way that we can.
On the other hand, if they abuse the system in order to get more food,, they are also taking
away food from those who are in even worse situations.
Step 1: Gather Relevant Information (cont.)
We served in the food pantry
It provides groceries to more than 800 families
Families can shop for the food and personal care items they need
Families or individuals come in, check in at the front desk and are given a number.
They are called into intake, where they are logged into the system and are given a
color that corresponds to their household size
And thus how much food they are able to get from the pantry
Families are only allowed to visit the pantry once a month due to resources
65% of households have a child under 18 or someone 60 or older.
We found an article exposing food pantries
A reporter got $40 worth of groceries with minimal questions asked. He did not provide
accurate identification
This is pretty low anyways but we thought it was interesting.
Step 1: Gather Relevant Information (cont.)
Their Programs
Food and nutrition - nine neighborhood-based food pantries where those in need can
shop free of charge, as well as a number of emergency food closets
Pharmacy and wellness - only one in southwest Ohio dedicated to providing free
medication
Homelessness prevention - provides rent and utility expense assistance to prevent
homelessness and works towards long-term solutions
Clothing and household - provides clothing, furniture, and household items to struggling
families via our nine thrift stores
Beds - provides a mattress, box spring and bed rail set to neighbors who would otherwise
be sleeping on the floor
Seasonal programs - conducts a number of special drives in partnership with media and
corporate sponsors to collect and distribute basic necessities
 Why Someone Lies to the Food Pantry
(Relevant Information)
I mean I take whats left over after paying towards everything else and
using it to feed my family of four for a week. Sometimes its $50. Thats a
pretty good week. Sometimes its only $20, and the kids complain of
boring beans and rice again. Some weeks, its even less. Some weeks, I
feed my children and my spouse, and find an excuse not to be hungry
because theres nothing left. Those weeks suck your will to live. And its
this reason that I solemnly drive to the food pantry each month, wait in
line, and lie on my paperwork to get food for my family. - Trisha
Lovetrove
Step 2: Identify the Type of Ethical Problem
1. Ethical Dilemma: a type of problem created when one is faced with a situation in
which there is actually more than one ethical course of action.
The intaker has two options:
i. He/She can allow the person to obtain a different colored chip for more
supplies without proper identification of all residents.
ii. He/She does not allow the chip color change without the identification
necessary.
Step 3: Use Ethics Theories or Approaches to Analyze the
Problem
Deontology: The law is the best
option.
Visitors of the pantry must bring
identification of family members to
input. If no identification is present,
these family members are not able to
be entered into the system.
Virtue Ethics: No Clear Principles
Try to help everyone. Take someones
word about the amount of family
members they have, even if no
identification is present. Be
compassionate to all people.
Utilitarianism: The most good for
the most people
Allow everyone to have a chip color
corresponding to the number of
people they say they have in the
residence.
Egoism
Do what would be most beneficial for
you at the given time. If registering
extra family members would cause
you to get in trouble, do not do so.
 Step 4: Explore the Practical Alternatives
Give the color that corresponds to the household size that is consistent with
the data in the system
Allow a different form of identification than the required one by St. Vincent De
Paul.
If they have some verification that can prove more family members are living with them, then
an appropriate amount of resources should be given even though they dont have the social
security and birth certificates.
Medical cards, tax forms, etc
Allow grace period for producing documentation
If the proper documentation is not present at time of intake, allow someone to bring in the
proper documents before the next visit, or no more leniency
Use personal instincts to judge
Once they say that they have more people living with them, immediately ask about their
names, birth dates, what they like to do, etc. If they hesitate, they must not be telling the truth.
Scenario
A woman comes into St.Vincent De Paul for the food pantry service. She asks
for a black chip (for households of 7+ members). However, she only has
identification for four of the family members and only those four members
are listed in the system. She says that her brother and his two children
recently moved into the home with her but she was unable to get their proper
identification before coming in today. Because recipients are only allowed to
utilize the pantry once a month, she does not want to miss her opportunity.
Now, if you were the intaker and part of your responsibility is to assign the
chip colors, what would you do?
What Would You Do?
A) Explain to her that the rules are the rules and you are unable to register the
additional family members without proper identification. Therefore, you give
her her red (for households of 3-4 members).

B) Trust her and allow her to have a black chip color without the registration
for the additional members. You then risk running low on supplies for those
who provided the proper identification.

Discussion: Lower your head. Everyone who chose A, raise your hand.
Everyone who chose B, raise your hand. Discuss which had more hands. Why?
Step 5: Complete the Action
We would supply them with the corresponding chip color for the number
of people that they say are living in their household during that month.
To try and ensure that the system is not exploited repeatedly, we would make a note in
the system so that the person taking intake next month is aware of the situation.
We would also explain to them that the next month it is essential that they bring the
proper documentation so that the rules that are in place are followed.
This decision follows utilitarianism
We want to help the greatest number of people
There is more than one program available to help the community.
Step 6: Evaluate the Process and Outcome
The goal of St. Vincent DePaul is to help everyone in the community meet
their basic needs
If these families really need the extra food then it should be our priority to help them get
what they need
At St. Vincent DePaul, we will utilize as many of the resources at our
disposal to help the people in need
These resources are in place to help the most people
Works Cited
DiBlasio, Natalie. "Hunger in America: 1 in 7 Rely on Food Banks." USA Today. Gannett
Satellite Information Network, 17 Aug. 2014. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.

Froio, Nicole."Why 'exposing' Food Banks Is Not Okay." Words by Nicole Froio. 20 Apr.
2014. Web. 06 Dec. 2016.

Lovetrove, Trisha. Why I Lie to the Food Pantry. The Huffington Post. The Huffington
Post, 31 May 2014. Web. 5 Dec. 2016.

Purtilo, Ruth B. and Regina F. Doherty. Ethical Dimensions in the Health Professions.
Elsevier Saunders, 1981. Print.

Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Our Programs. Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Society of St.
Vincent de Paul, 2016. Web. 2 Dec. 2016.