DH is using community pantry for free food

Just saw this advertising my local community fridge

If we really cared about conserving resources and building a healthy economy, supermarkets would receive heavy penalties to deter this wastefulness.

According to a BBC show which took place in a Warburton's factory, the UK produces around twice the amount of bread the population eats. BBC One - Inside the Factory, Series 9, Sliced Bread

Supermarkets deliberately over order so that they have all the different varieties in stock. They know they can offload the extra to community pantries rather than paying their own disposal costs. Of course, the community pantries can't give it away either, or if they do, the recipients don't actually get round to eating it.

It is open to all for a reason. Because community fridges if they are just for those in need are often throwing away a huge amount of perishable goods. My organisation has a canteen and staff are offered up veg, bread and pastries that are about to go off. They have stated they have offered to local charities and they do not want them. If OPs husband does need to assuage his middle class guilt I would suggest look out for wishlishts of local food banks - they are often looking for things like rice, pasta, long life milk and cereals

No, I'm sure they don't, unless they have large freezers to freeze food. He could always check to see what's needed as I agree that leaving large amounts of food at shelters at short notice isn't helpful, if it can't be used quickly.

I'm pretty sure shelters or donation centres don't want crates of bread and pastries about to go out of date, or piles of say red peppers many of which are a bit squishy. This misguided charity likely creates more work for the shelter and centre staff.

I know you've said that this is open to all but I don't think your dh should be taking food, given your financial circumstances. Suggest he drops off the food to a homeless shelter or a donation centre. At least that way those who are really in need will benefit from the food.

Is there a brick wall in the community pantry that I can bang my head off?

It depends if the food would go to waste or not.

Better that OP's husband takes it than if it sits there rotting. It depends on the demand. Is it really being used only by the near destitute? It is not the food bank where you need to qualify surely?

I hope you didn't think I was being rude.
Apologies if you did 🙂
My point (and essentially the whole argument of this thread) is that Community Pantries are for anyone and everyone.

Just to point out the town that Facebook post was from has several (actual) food banks - some you do require referral but some are charities based on the honesty of those requesting food and some are church based.

That's downright hilarious

Yes you'd think they'd always sell out (plus the stealing thing 🙁).
Going by the photo on the Facebook post it was a massive amount of sausage rolls.
I'm guessing someone ordered too many.

I am surprised to hear of a Greggs with left over food. My local one has the shelves swiped by shoplifters all the time.

There was a post on one of my Facebook groups yesterday for one of the local anti food waste schemes.
A massive amount of Greggs left overs available.
The post literally said "First Come, First Served".
Definitely didn't say "oh but you must be poor"
😂

If it's for everyone, intended to reduce waste, then it's not shitty for anyone to use it and reduce waste. We have plenty of people here from these anti waste initiatives who say they want the food used, not left to rot. Using these resources keeps them open.

I'm sorry you had a difficult period and glad these places helped you, but it really is entirely beside the point. There are also people who can't afford brand new clothes, does that mean it's shitty for people who aren't struggling to use Vinted?

I echo this after spending the morning of my day off finding somewhere to take the food that hasn't been taken.

Once again, please take the bread!

Try reading the thread @cleo333

I would feel as uncomfortable as you and would say so to him , in fact if it’s not out of tightness it would give me the ick !

Yawn. Have you read the many, many posts from users and volunteers saying they want anyone to take the food away otherwise it goes in the bin.
They often have trays and trays of bread or 400 bags of sugar, or crates of potatoes.
Those who need it are either not coming to collect it (a whole other thread about accessibility there), or they don't want it.

It's not a food bank so it's for everyone...that said there are people who use them who don't have a lot of money. During my maternity leave a few years ago, we were struggling so these places were a god send. It's the right thing to do, to leave this food for those who need it more, to stock up when you're capable of buying your own food is pretty shitty.

We have one of these at church. They take a humongous amount of food from the surplus organisation and local supermarkets - way more than they can possibly give away.

If the purpose of the initiative is to reduce food waste, then it is genuinely open to everyone from any background.

the project was called "Book Crossing" I believe it lost traction when bombs started being left in public places and police advised people not to do it also to report things being left in public places. https://www.bookcrossing.com

Today's example from the Saturday food waste stall I visit.

Deliveries can be super varied. Today is a bit dull and not varied at all. There's food waste from a Lidl two towns over (people in that town don't do pick up on a friday) from last night. Bread and sweet things only. Plus a few crates from our local Lidl retrieved this morning, and a couple of bags of sourdough and treats from Gail's one town over (Gail's share their leftovers among several local groups). Nearly all bakery. One crate of strawberries and tomatoes, visibly past their best.

The queue is a mix of working people, not working, people with kids, older people without, a couple of people struggling in society.

Today it is pouring down. Usually we leave quite a few crates still full and a message goes out on our local food waste whatsapp group. Today we're told to fill our bags as much as we can.

Why? Anything that isn't taken and gets ruined by the weather goes to the pigs on the local farm. They do try to shelter the food the best they can but when the weather is really poor there's a limit. This stall is just outside the main volunteer's house on the street - there's no cover.

Do I feel guilty for taking a good bagful despite having two working adults at home? Not in the least. It is literally going to pigs if I don't have it.

If your local place is not like this, fine - different places, different rules. But use some imagination and don't assume people are being awful for taking some leftover croissants...