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AIBU?

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Original poster

To donate quinoa to the food bank?

233 replies

RaisinFlapjack · 08/12/2024 23:37

I realise there’s no way this won’t sound like the most guardian-reading middle-class question ever so I’m just going to own it.

i’m clearing out my cupboards before Xmas and I have a fair amount of in-date jars tins and packets which are taking up space.

Ibwas thinking of bagging it up for the food bank but while I’ve got some staples like tinned tomatoes and rice pudding which are more typically on the food-bank wish lists, some of it more along the lines of rocket pesto and polenta.

Is getting random bits like that at all useful for food banks or does it create a bit of headache or at worst get thrown out?

OP posts:
MaggieBsBoat · 09/12/2024 11:53

Toddlerteaplease · 09/12/2024 11:51

My mum volunteers for a food bank. They want things that can be made with a kettle, in a microwave or on a hob. So I'm not sure quinoa would be much use.

Quinoa is made on the hob, or with with a kettle and a pot.

MaggieBsBoat · 09/12/2024 11:52

YABU regarding Polenta as it’s utterly lousy and no one should be eating it.

Toddlerteaplease · 09/12/2024 11:51

My mum volunteers for a food bank. They want things that can be made with a kettle, in a microwave or on a hob. So I'm not sure quinoa would be much use.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/12/2024 11:50

I would donate it - as others have said it could go on an “extras” shelf for people to take if they want it. Anything that isn’t really difficult and expensive to prepare will probably find some takers.

MabelMaybe · 09/12/2024 11:46

Quinoa is gluten free, so may well be useful for someone who needs GF free meal options.

Original poster
RaisinFlapjack · 09/12/2024 11:32

Sonowimbackfromouterspace · 09/12/2024 11:16

And if she'd done that, you'd have had one less thing to bitch about, so you'd have lost out there.

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No-one posts a question in AIBU without expecting a bit of this. It's part of the experience.

OP posts:
GreenTeaLikesMe · 09/12/2024 11:28

SmalllChange · 09/12/2024 10:31

If she donated it without questioning, no-one here would know, would they?

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Well, let me rephrase that: if she mentioned donating to a foodbank and mentioned quinoa as one of the list of things she donated without apologizing or asking questions.

A lot of people on here seem convinced that virtually everyone using a foodbank has no fridge or cooking facilities whatsoever and has to feed themselves on things ready to eat from the packet; I know that's true of some FB users but I bet it's not the majority.

Sonowimbackfromouterspace · 09/12/2024 11:16

SmalllChange · 09/12/2024 11:10

Hopefully you're self-aware enough to realise you're coming across as far too try hard.

No-one here knows or gives a shit what 'class' anyone claims to be.

The glaringly obvious thing to do would've been to contact the foodbank in question anyway.

And if she'd done that, you'd have had one less thing to bitch about, so you'd have lost out there.

SmalllChange · 09/12/2024 11:10

Hopefully you're self-aware enough to realise you're coming across as far too try hard.

No-one here knows or gives a shit what 'class' anyone claims to be.

The glaringly obvious thing to do would've been to contact the foodbank in question anyway.

Original poster
RaisinFlapjack · 09/12/2024 11:02

SmalllChange · 09/12/2024 00:40

Oh do turn it in 🙄

Reasonable would've been "Do you think my local foodbank might want some quinoa?"

But all the 'middle class Guardian reading' shit is what makes the OP sound a bit thick.

Like she thinks firstly no-one middle class would need a foodbank, and secondly like she thinks working class people don't eat friggin quinoa.

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I think that even if I'd just asked "will my local foodbank want quinoa?" some people would have make exactly the same assumptions.

I am an over-thinking, progressive middle-class type. Guilty as charged. That's not intending to be virtue-signalling or snobbish or whatever, it's just a fact. Hopefully I'm self-aware enough to realise I'm a complete cliché.

I asked the question precisely because I didn't want to assume that people using food banks either do or don't typically eat quinoa or sun dried tomatoes or whatever.

But more specifically, not knowing how food banks process or distribute donations to know whether getting donations of non-staple items is actually helpful or not given how they operate.

OP posts:
GridlockonMain · 09/12/2024 10:38

I think something like quinoa would fall into the ‘less useful’ category of food bank foods, just because it falls foul of certain practical limitations that people using food banks sometimes have to deal with (like for instance it takes a fair bit of cooking, and you need to have other things with it - seasoning / veg / etc. - to make it a decent meal), and you’d need to know what to do with it (which some food bank users will and some won’t).

That said, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with donating what you already have on the basis that it’s more likely to be useful that way than just going out of date in a cupboard.

kaela100 · 09/12/2024 10:35

. You need to contact the foodbank and see what they'll prefer. Everyone will be different as they serve different communities.

Original poster
RaisinFlapjack · 09/12/2024 10:33

Thanks for the helpful comments from people who know how food banks operate. Sounds like one way or another donated things won't go to waste, even if they are bit esoteric.

I would eat this stuff myself eventually but if I can usefully donate it, then it helps to clear down the store cupboard. I'm a terrible one for impulse buying stuff on special offers, or going through a phase of something being my go-to lunch then not fancying it again for ages. So I need an occasional stock take!

OP posts:
5foot5 · 09/12/2024 10:31

MauveLeader · 09/12/2024 07:25

Tabouleh is a great use of quinoa. Basically salad and grains , cheap and nutritious .

Golly this takes me right back to the 1980s and a song by Fascinating Aida called "Yuppies". Basically it is about a group of Yuppies having a dinner party and we get the lyric:

"We start the meal with tabouleh,
Taramasalata is so passé."

Back on topic, I bought quinoa once and I also ended up with a half used packet cluttering up my cupboard. I didn't care for it either.

SmalllChange · 09/12/2024 10:31

GreenTeaLikesMe · 09/12/2024 03:23

OP, you'll never win on here. If you donate the quinoa without questioning, you'd be considered a clueless middle class person who is incapable of understanding that 99% of food bank recipients are in a bedsit with zero cooking facilities (apparently). If you ask whether it's a good idea, you'll be considered a clueless middle class person who does not understand that ACTUALLY ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE DO USE FOOD BANKS, YOU KNOW.

If she donated it without questioning, no-one here would know, would they?

AllYearsAround · 09/12/2024 09:54

Since the OP likes and knows what to do with quinoa, it's probably better to use it herself and donate something to the food bank that's on their request list.

TwinklyMoose · 09/12/2024 09:15

RaisinFlapjack · 09/12/2024 00:15

Not knowing how food banks operate, this is what I was wondering - whether for the most part people get pre-picked bags that are very generic, or people get to make their own choices.

Is donating things knowing it is destined for the “other” shelf actually useful or would you rather not get donations full of random stuff?

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i suppose it depends how random the item is! It is nice though for clients to be able to choose things themselves from the random shelf. So much choice has already been taken away from them by even having to visit Foodbank in the first place. For instance we had a man overjoyed when he found some pickled artichokes and just last week a young lady very pleased that she found some white company body cream.
All donations are very gratefully received. (apart from baby milk we are not allowed to give that out and anything with alcohol in or bleach)

Dash0Cal · 09/12/2024 08:54

You’re massively overthinking. Just donate it. Pesto is a staple food. Quinoa is also pretty common (and if someone hasn’t had it before, they can just read the back of the packet). Both good things to donate.

We used to get all sorts or rubbish donated especially out of date stuff. Just a waste of time and effort for everyone.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/12/2024 08:52

oakleaffy · 09/12/2024 08:06

Maybe OP doesn't like it {Quinoa} - I bought some Cadbury's 'instant' drinking chocolate as their usual stuff is unobtainable.
It's foul.

But some people must like it- Had I not opened it, I'd have donated it.

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Someone who only has access to a kettle will appreciate instant hot chocolate but will not be able to use quinoa even if they know what it is.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/12/2024 08:51

RedRiverShore5 · 09/12/2024 08:04

I would just use it, it's only a best before date so will be fine for a couple of years yet.

They won't hand out goods which are actually past their use by date. We have a table for things that are short dated but with still a while to go.

Roastiesarethebestbit · 09/12/2024 08:21

Personally I wouldn’t donate it. You actually paid money for it and yet it has still sat in your cupboard unused.

drspouse · 09/12/2024 08:09

I would go by what's available in our nearest, tiny corner shop i.e. what's a good seller.
Pesto yes
Quinoa no

Forgottenwhatitwas · 09/12/2024 08:07

You could phone them and ask. Do you have a community pantry type scheme near you? A church near us had one, you could just leave / take what you wanted. At work we donate a lot to food share schemes as well like Olio

ttcat37 · 09/12/2024 08:07

SierraBee · 08/12/2024 23:39

No idea but it gave me a giggle. Can you have it with chips or in a sandwich?

Is that what you think people who use food banks eat?

oakleaffy · 09/12/2024 08:06

Radamanth · 09/12/2024 07:59

I would always say;

'If it's so usable, why aren't you using it yourself?'

Don't give struggling people your shit.

Maybe OP doesn't like it {Quinoa} - I bought some Cadbury's 'instant' drinking chocolate as their usual stuff is unobtainable.
It's foul.

But some people must like it- Had I not opened it, I'd have donated it.