Summarize the following:
In most communities, there is at least one non-profit organization that distributes donated food to those in need. If you are having trouble affording a trip to the grocery store, this can be a great way to get some basic items to stock your pantry.  Food banks are typically run by independent charitable organizations and churches in your local community, so you should be able to track one down on-line or even using the phone book. If you're having trouble finding out where the food bank is in your community this website lists many food banks around the nation, though it is not an exhaustive list. Similar services exist to help you meet your clothing needs. These clothing banks are are run by churches and other private charities, sometimes at the same site as your local food bank. If your food bank doesn't have a clothing bank and you need some clothes, the volunteers at the food bank may be able to tell you where these services are available. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers assistance to individuals and families who's income does not exceed 130 percent of the poverty line. This program, called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can make trips to the grocery store much less painful and makes cooking your own meals an even cheaper option.  To find out if you are eligible for SNAP, use their pre-screening tool, available here. In most states, you can apply for SNAP online. Links to each state's application page are available here. If you have children, you may be eligible for a federal program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), more commonly known as welfare. This is a cash assistance program that can help you make ends meet for a while.  Funds for TANF are provided to states in block grants from The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. It is up to each individual state to distribute these funds. You can find information about your state's requirements and application processes by visiting the ACF's website and selecting your state. TANF benefits are available for a maximum of five years, and recipients typically must demonstrate that they are making an effort to become self-sufficient. Assistance with housing costs is also available for families who earn less than 50 percent of the median income in their area. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will pay some portion of your rent directly to your landlord if you qualify. Like TANF, Section 8 housing is administered at the state level. To find your local Public Housing Authority and apply for a HUD voucher, visit the HUD website and select your state. If you have a family, the cost of childcare can be a major burden, but may be unavoidable if you go to work or school. The Child Care and Development Fund provides assistance for working parents of children under the age of 13. Like many of the programs discussed above, this assistance is provided at the state level. To find out who to contact for information about assistance in your state, visit the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Childcare website. If you have school aged children, they may be eligible for subsidized meals at school through the USDA's National School Lunch Program(NSLP). For information about eligibility requirements and how to apply, visit their website. The NSLP website also provides other valuable information about how create low-cost healthy meals and snacks for your children.

summary: Go to the food bank. Apply for food stamps. Apply for welfare. Apply for Section 8. Get child care assistance. Apply for free/reduced lunch.


Summarize the following:
When your trial date arrives, get to the courthouse early. You will be required to go through a security checkpoint, which will look and feel a lot like airport security. Once you get through security, go to your courtroom and wait until your case is called. An important part of being successful in court involves dressing professionally. A courtroom is considered a professional and serious venue, so you need to dress that way. Always wear a suit if you have one. You should always avoid wearing shorts, sandals, and hats. You or your lawyer will need to give the judge a roadmap of what the evidence will show. The opening statement should be brief, but should summarize what evidence will support your claim to full custody. Do not engage in argument. Emotions can run high in a custody hearing, but there is nothing to argue about during the opening statement because no evidence has been admitted into court yet. As the petitioner (the person seeking joint custody), you will present witnesses first. The respondent (the other parent) will then have an opportunity to cross-examine each witness.  Do not ask leading questions. A leading question states a fact and then asks the witness to agree. For example, “You never spank your child, do you?” is a leading question. Instead, the lawyer should ask a series of questions such as “How often does your son misbehave?” “Do you punish him?” “How do you punish him?” Then the attorney can ask, “Have you ever spanked your son?” Ask witnesses to identify any documents you want introduced into evidence. You must first elicit testimony that a document is what you claim it is before it can be admitted into evidence. The purpose of cross-examination is to either discredit the witness or to minimize the testimony by showing that the witness is biased or lacking in sufficient knowledge to testify about the matter.  You can impeach a witness with a prior inconsistent statement. If a witness ever praised you as a parent, then that statement can be introduced if the witness now claims on the stand that you are a bad parent. If someone testifies that you and your child fight, then you can minimize the damage by highlighting how infrequently the witness sees you with your child. Always try to remain calm. If you feel anger overwhelming you, close your eyes for five seconds and breathe deeply. You or your lawyer will summarize your case, explicitly linking evidence to the best interest of the child factors provided in you state's statute.  Counter bad facts as best as you can. If you don't have a clean criminal record, then concede that fact before highlighting the evidence that shows you have lived responsibly for the past several years. Once your trial is over, the judge will make a decision regarding your case. If you prevail, you will have obtained joint custody of your child. If you were unsuccessful at trial, you can choose to appeal the judge's decision if you think they made a mistake.
summary: Arrive on time. Dress appropriately. Deliver an opening statement. Call witnesses. Cross-examine the witnesses for the other side. Deliver a closing argument. Wait for the court's decision.