CNN iReport

The economy is making things tough for everyone it seems, but these days things might be a bit tougher for some than others. In fact, the economic conditions have financially crippled some so intensely, that in one South Miami neighborhood even those with incomes are resorting to any means necessary to make it through the deepening depression. Dumpsters in the back of grocery stores are many times now serving as the only place where many desperate people are getting their food. “Dumpster Diving” as it’s called, is rapidly becoming the new American activity for those who are on the edge of economic collapse, but not nessessarily on the edge of society, just the average neighborhood person you and I might know.

One such case is from a man who wants to be called Kenny G. A South Miami resident, Kenny G does have an income in the form of commercial rental property he owns. However, he has found it too difficult to make his bills and other expenses. “My income property up North provides me with just enough to pay some of my obligations, but I can’t keep up and can no longer afford to buy food, especially since I know I can get it free.”

When asked how many others come to this particular dumpster to find food he replied, “at least fifty”. Although I did see several others come to the dumpster within a 25 minute period that I was there, all declined to be interviewed and seemed far too embarrassed to have their needs made public.

Kenny went through much of the top layer of the contents of the grocery store dumpster and found many things he had no difficulty with the thought of eating. In one instance, he ate an apple he plucked from the steel garbage container right in front of me. He went on about his business then calmly picked a discarded cabbage head from the food rubble, clean it up a bit, and placed it in a box to take home for later.

His circumstance didn’t seem to deter or bother him all that much as he somehow maintained an almost happy go lucky attitude about the whole thing. “Best steak I ever had, porter house, steak from right here” as he points at the dumpster and smiled.

Before today, I hadn’t noticed how many people are going to dumpsters to get food for themselves, but this experience, for this story, brought the recession/depression -- whichever you want to call it -- and all its hardships directly in front of my face on a dumpster platter. It certainly is a sign of the times, and a vivid reminder of how bad it can, and has become for some Americans.