To wonder if it's best to go for quality or quantity?

[DrSeuss]

Food bank donation
Scenario 1-
I spend £10 on stuff for the food bank. I take time in the supermarket to buy the maximum for the money. I buy stuff I know to be cheap and nasty but I get a good size bag.
Does this not say, "Here, poor people. Take this crap. It's vile and I wouldn't eat it but that's what you get."?

Scenario 2
I spend £10 and get slightly nicer stuff. Nothing fancy, just not the absolute bargain basement stuff that tastes like shit. No seed mix, no kidney bean canapés, just food that is not actually unpleasant eg mid priced beans not the really cheap ones that are disgusting.
However, this reduces the volume of my donation, giving the food bank less to give out.

Anyone know which way to go? I can't just spend more, I can't afford it.

[LadySybilLikesSloeGin]

A lot of basics stuff is the same as the nicer stuff, just with cheaper packaging/less marketing etc

[LadySybilLikesSloeGin]

By the same, I mean made in the same way by the same companies. Identical apart from the packaging. Some may use lower quality ingredients, most are OK though.

[heygoldfish]

If you are really wondering about this I would personally donate the money rather than the food.

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

Donate what they ask for. Look at the list. You can't go wrong then

[DrSeuss]

Anyone got suggestions for decent but cheap stuff? I know that they need as much as possible but handing in a bag of rubbish to give to people who have no choice but to eat it or go hungry just seems so unfair.

[MakeMeWarmThisWinter]

You can donate money instead - that way they can buy stuff that's a current priority.

Not as immediately heartwarming but more useful.

[Delilahfandango]

Basic rice, pasta and tinned tomatoes are quite acceptable but basic beans are vile. Think I'd go for a mix of basic and mid price. Maybe check out special offers/bog offs?

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

UHT milk
Sugar
Loo roll

You can pick your brands but just use common sense really.

[DrSeuss]

The list gives items eg canned soup. I had very cheap canned soup as a student. It was vile! The super cheap beans are yuk. My point is, do I get two cans of the nice or six of the nasty? Why should recipients have to eat stuff I would reject?

[LadySybilLikesSloeGin]

I buy basic beans from Waitrose. 45p a can and there's no difference between them and Heinz. Branston beans are 4 cans for £1.27 (Ocado) so it's a case of shopping around.

[Tinks42]

Handing in a bag of rubbish? I don't get what you're on about to be fair. Food is just that.

[ChristmasEva50]

I try to get things on special offer. Asda have Heinz beans, spaghetti, tinned soup, macaroni cheese, beans and sausages, spaghetti bolognaise, super-noodles, pasta and sauce and more for 50p at the moment. I think the basics biscuits are fine. My dc's are happy with them.

[BackforGood]

You are projecting somewhat.
I don't rely on foodbanks - in fact, I feel we are pretty comfortably off at the moment, but we eat 'Basics' or 'Value' food simply because mostly it's the same stuff or just as nice, and I don't see the point in paying more when the value stuff is fine.

[DrSeuss]

Yes, I think money may be best but I wanted to take DC shopping, have them help and gain an understanding. Milk is milk, so that will be OK. Cheap sugar is just the same.

[CaulkheadUpNorth]

I co-run a food bank.
We will take whatever you give, and will be thankful for it regardless.

However, often the very very cheap beans, spaghetti etc has a higher salt and sugar content. This is why people sometimes go up a brand. We would rather give out healthier things if possible.

Ask why you wouldn't eat the lower brand yourself, and if it's because of something like that, then get the better brand.

We always need stuff like uht milk and there isn't a brand superiority for things like that.

[LuisSuarezTeeth]

Stick to "own brand" then. Not branded or value, just in the middle.

Is it really that difficult? Or is this another TAAT?

[MrsTawdry]

Listen DrSeuss I eat mainly "cheap nasty crap that tastes vile" as you call it and so do MANY of the users on this site. So please be more sensitive.

Your OP is odd. If you think non branded goods are nasty rubbish then please buy the best quality things instead.

[IamTitanium]

Got a family bargains or similar shop near you?
If yes option C- go there buy the brands you think are better for same price as basic.

[DrSeuss]

But do they make own brand quinoa? ;)
Yes, it is something I think about. It goes against the grain to make people eat crap I wouldn't touch because they are poor. I am lucky that I don't have to use a food bank. I should treat those who do as I would like to be treated.

[PacificDogwood]

I never buy anything for the food bank I would not be happy eating myself.

I don't see how deciding what to get is difficult?
The other option is get some treats, biscuits, something for children.
Or sanitary ware (towels or tampons) - they are also often needed.

[heygoldfish]

At the risk of sounding petty, unpleasant and snippy, we have had hundreds and hundreds of food bank threads and well do I remember them. (I am in a role where I issue them to people.)

There will be lots of items suggested and they will include:

toiletries and sanitary products
Formula
Pet food

As well as

UHT milk
Sugar
Tea
Coffee
Cereal
Tinned soup
Tins such as Irish stew, chicken curry, mince beef
Rice pudding, other sponge puddings
Chocolate
Biscuits
Crisps
Squash

One mumsnetter will object to a pudding or squash or biscuits

Said mumsnetter will be handed their arse on a plate - but not to be handed out at a food bank.

Someone will say how terrible it is someone will be in a position where they don't have tampons
Someone will say how it is all the fault of the government
There will be lots of faces.

Eventually it will reach it's natural end and be reposted three days later

[PacificDogwood]

x-post with you, DrSeuss - there you go then, you've answered your own question.

[PacificDogwood]

goldfish
You're not wrong!

[MrsTawdry]

"But do they make own brand quinoa?"

Oh ffs.

There is advice online OP. Go there. You're being stupid. AND calling the food which many people HAVE to eat "vile" "nasty" "Rubbish" is very rude.

[OriginalGreenGiant]

What the pp said - is it really that hard?

Buy food.

You keep banging on about flipping beans...I know many bean snobs that will only buy branded. Personally, I don't like Heinz beans, I prefer tesco own. If I was in a position where I needed to use a food bank, I wouldn't be bothered about the brand.