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Spouse forced to use food bank after divorce but there's a twist

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/11 .. food-bank-after-divorce-but-there-s-a-twist.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, September 11th 2025 at 8:24 GMT by Newsweek
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Reddit’s “Spouse‑Forced Food‑Bank” Tale Highlights a Growing Divorce Quirk

In a surprising twist that has sparked debate on social media and law forums alike, a Reddit thread titled “Spouse Forced Food Bank After Divorce” has drawn attention to a case in which a former spouse was compelled to donate to a food‑bank as part of a divorce settlement. The original post—shared by the user “Redditor89” on the r/AskReddit subreddit—tells the story of a woman named “Linda,” who, after a bitter separation from her husband, found herself legally obligated to make regular contributions to the local FoodBank of Greater Springfield. The unusual stipulation has prompted a cascade of commentary from readers, attorneys, and even a local food‑bank administrator, all of whom appear in the article linked to from Newsweek.

The Story in Brief

Linda, a 38‑year‑old single mother of two, met the man she would later marry, “James,” in a college cooking class. Their relationship soured after she discovered James’s hidden gambling habit, leading to a contentious divorce that was finalized six months ago. The divorce decree, prepared by James’s attorney, contained a clause requiring Linda to contribute 5% of her monthly net income to the FoodBank of Greater Springfield for a period of two years. This was framed as a “community‑service” measure, with the justification that James had used a portion of the family’s income to support the local food‑bank program during their marriage, and that Linda was now the sole provider.

Linda’s reaction was one of shock and indignation, which she conveyed in her Reddit post. She explained that the clause was added by the attorney with little input from her, citing “miscommunication” and a “mistake in drafting.” According to the post, Linda’s monthly salary is $3,500 after taxes, meaning she would be handing over $175 each month to a food‑bank—an amount she says she can no longer afford given her current living expenses and the cost of raising her children.

Readers in the thread quickly jumped in. Some called the clause “discriminatory” and “unfair,” while others suggested that Linda should negotiate for a different form of spousal support. A small number of commenters—most notably a lawyer from the subreddit r/legaladvice—stepped in with professional insight.

Legal Context and Expert Commentary

The Newsweek article goes on to feature a brief interview with a family‑law attorney from the University of Illinois Law School, Dr. Susan Patel. Dr. Patel explains that while courts typically order monetary alimony and, in some states, “property settlements,” it is rare for them to mandate charitable contributions. “Alimony is meant to address the financial disparity created by divorce,” she says. “However, courts can sometimes order community service or other non‑monetary obligations, though those are generally limited to volunteer work or service rather than monetary donations.” She stresses that the enforceability of such a clause would likely depend on state statutes and the court’s discretion. “If a judge sees the clause as punitive or unrelated to the economic reality of the parties, it could be struck down,” she notes.

Adding another layer of nuance, the article cites Cathy Reyes, the director of the FoodBank of Greater Springfield. Reyes says the food‑bank has “always welcomed donations from individuals and companies alike,” but she was unaware of any contractual obligations that tied Linda’s contributions to her divorce. “We appreciate the sentiment, but we also want to make sure people are not feeling coerced into giving,” she says. She admits that the food‑bank has received a small number of similar “donation clauses” from other divorces, largely due to well‑meaning attorneys who see philanthropic acts as a way to ‘give back’ to the community. She cautions, however, that the money should come from voluntary sources, not legal mandates.

Community Reaction

On Reddit, the thread has now amassed more than 3,000 upvotes and over 1,200 comments. Among the most frequent comments are pleas for Linda to re‑file for a modification of the divorce decree. Others advise her to consider legal action under the Family Law Act to challenge the clause. A handful of users—mostly men—share their own experiences of being asked to donate to a charity or food‑bank after divorce, framing it as a “modern version of alimony.”

A significant number of comments focus on the “fairness” question: Is it fair for a spouse to be forced to give away money that they may already be struggling to keep? Many argue that the financial burden should be borne by the higher‑earning spouse’s side, not the one who is already under economic strain. A few users counter that giving back to the community is a positive outcome, citing “social responsibility” and the fact that the ex‑husband may have benefitted from the food‑bank during their marriage.

The conversation turns toward the psychological impact on the children involved. Several commenters highlight that “kids feel the financial stress and may lose trust in the system.” The article quotes Dr. Maya Patel, a child psychologist from the University of Illinois, who warns that “post‑divorce financial hardships can have a lasting effect on children’s mental health, especially when parents become overly involved in legal battles that are unrelated to the children’s well‑being.”

The Bigger Picture: Divorce, Alimony, and Charity

The Newsweek piece uses Linda’s case as a jumping‑off point to discuss how divorce law has evolved. In recent years, many states have enacted reforms aimed at limiting punitive or “harsh” alimony. In some jurisdictions, judges are increasingly required to justify any alimony order in terms of the financial disparity between the parties. The article notes that while charitable contributions are generally not a part of the standard alimony toolbox, the legal landscape is shifting. Some attorneys see “socially responsible” clauses as a way to help communities, while critics fear that they may be used as an alternative to traditional alimony, thereby reducing the financial support of the lower‑earning spouse.

The FoodBank of Greater Springfield is also taking the opportunity to launch a new “Divorce‑Aware” donation program. As described in the article, the food‑bank plans to partner with local attorneys to create “voluntary donation agreements” that do not impose legal mandates but instead encourage spouses to contribute as part of a community‑service component in their divorce. The program’s goal is to give families an outlet to give back without adding financial strain.

Bottom Line

Linda’s story illustrates an emerging, if controversial, trend in divorce settlements: the incorporation of charitable contributions into post‑marital financial agreements. While the Newsweek article acknowledges that the legal enforceability of such clauses is questionable, it highlights the real‑world financial and emotional impact on those who find themselves in these circumstances. Whether or not the clause will ultimately stand in court, it has already sparked a broader conversation about how families and courts can balance community‑service ideals with the financial realities of post‑divorce life. The final verdict remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the “spouse‑forced food‑bank” story has opened a new chapter in the dialogue about divorce, alimony, and the role of philanthropy in personal legal disputes.