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Original poster

DH is using community pantry for free food

840 replies

cookingaroast · 08/11/2025 20:12

There is a community pantry in our village, with the purpose being to cut food waste. I completely support cutting down on food waste, and the food provided is all from supermarkets who would otherwise throw the food out. My issue is more I'm a bit uncomfortable with us taking the food.
We are both in the tech industry and both fall into the higher tax bracket for our salaries, more than capable of paying for food ourselves.

I've said to DH I don't think we should be utilising this resource and leave the food for others who need it more than us but he loves the bargains (free food) he gets from it. He genuinely wants to show off the stuff he's picked up whenever he goes - which is usually once a week.

I guess I feel a bit uncomfortable that this free food could be a lifeline to people. I do like charity shopping and getting a bargain but I don't feel as bad, as I'm paying what they decide they feel it's worth and the money is going to charity. This is completely free and run by volunteers.

OP posts:
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Lovehascomeandgone · 09/11/2025 18:16

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:01

I’m absoloutly disgusted at the people who cannot understand he difference between a food bank and a food pantry (that is open to all and is designed to reduce food waste)

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I understand the difference, there are still people a lot more needy than two high rate tax payers. Total pair of scabs, disgusting!

ladyamy · 09/11/2025 18:15

Isittimeformynapyet · 08/11/2025 20:20

Calm down. It's not a food bank.

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My thoughts exactly!

Seemslikethat · 09/11/2025 18:15

I volunteer at a community pantry. We want EVERYONE to come and take the food. Firstly, because we often struggle to get rid of it all and it’s a shame for it to be wasted and secondly, because if everyone uses it, it makes it seem less of a stigma for those who might need it.

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 09/11/2025 18:14

We've got a community pantry in our village church. It's about food waste, but also functions as an unofficial food bank. I give food to it but have never taken from it. However, the "rules" around it are very unclear.

If it's genuinely about food waste then anyone can take from it.

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:14

DeedsNotDiddums · 09/11/2025 18:14

Not really because you do pay for them.

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Sorry what?

independentfriend · 09/11/2025 18:14

It might be useful in getting other local people using the service to see him using it - demonstrating it's for reducing food waste rather than for people who are food insecure. This reduces stigma and might help people who could do with it make use of it too.

Sometimes food that comes from places set up to prevent food waste isn't in a format that works for people in precarious circumstances so it's not taking something away from a person in poverty.

But it's still a bit 'off' - think it'd be good to make a small cash donation to the pantry / a local service for people experiencing food insecurity.

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:14

mydogisthebest · 09/11/2025 18:12

I think some people would rather see good fresh food thrown away than let people who are not hard up have them.

So many idiots on here

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It would seem so - and I say that as someone who is trying to live on under £23000 with two dependants.

DeedsNotDiddums · 09/11/2025 18:14

Needmorelego · 09/11/2025 18:12

Which is basically the same thing.

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Not really because you do pay for them.

CommonAsMucklowe · 09/11/2025 18:13

I can't stand wealthy people who are tight. It's an illness. My partner and I live monthly to month and you two are on the grab. Sickening.

mydogisthebest · 09/11/2025 18:12

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:01

I’m absoloutly disgusted at the people who cannot understand he difference between a food bank and a food pantry (that is open to all and is designed to reduce food waste)

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I think some people would rather see good fresh food thrown away than let people who are not hard up have them.

So many idiots on here

Needmorelego · 09/11/2025 18:12

DeedsNotDiddums · 09/11/2025 18:05

Maybe he could sign up for Olio or Too Good To Go?

Which is basically the same thing.

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:11

The bottom line for me is. There are people who use these services who live on benefits. Or are in low income jobs. Someone in a higher tax bracket doesn't need to use it

If you don't need it - don't use it. If you are on a high salary you do not need to be rocking up to a community pantry just because you like getting a bargain

Or at least use it every now and then. Not every week because you absolutely are depriving poorer people of something that could be a lifeline for them.

That will be the hill I will die on - because I'm poor. I have been really reluctant to use certain services in the past because someone might need it more than me - and I live in a poor area. I can't imagine being a high earner and going to use a pantry because bargains

Needmorelego · 09/11/2025 18:10

Divebar2021 · 09/11/2025 18:01

well I had a look at the website for my local pantry and it says nothing about food waste on its website. It very carefully talks about everyone having access to good food. It runs a membership scheme and you pay a small amount and you get to take £20 odd worth of food with you per visit. They are currently not taking any more members. They are part of a network so it’s not some random stand alone. Perhaps people are using pantry’s instead of Community fridges or perhaps everyone uses the term pantry differently.

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Where does the food come from?

mydogisthebest · 09/11/2025 18:09

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:02

People aren't going to rock up and read 20 pages

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Why? Too stupid or too lazy? To just jump in with their pearls of wisdom and look as thick as shit in the process is just pathetic

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:09

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:04

No.

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Ok.

Janeb1965 · 09/11/2025 18:08

I help run a community fridge where I live. It's absolutely to reduce food waste and so YABU. That's not to say some folk don't use it becuase of poverty and that's also fine, but its not its sole purpose. As I live in a small community I can be pretty sure who needs the free food and who doesn't. We effectively self manage this by the folk who don't need the free food usually coming later in the session and so taking from what's left. I certainly don't need free food but if there is anything left as we are closing that can't be frozen or carried forward, and I fancy it, I'll.take some. We also do call outs on our social media page if there is obviously still going to be a surplus at the end of the session

Needmorelego · 09/11/2025 18:06

Lovehascomeandgone · 09/11/2025 17:55

To be honest OP I was absolutely disgusted reading this. What is wrong with him and what is wrong with you for not challenging him. Leave the food for people who really need it and put your hands in your pocket. Shocking behaviour.

Another one who doesn't know what a "Community Pantry" actually is 🙄
Read the thread.

Jijithecat · 09/11/2025 18:06

ThatCyanCat · 09/11/2025 14:22

Is there anyone with food retail experience who can explain why so much unsold food goes to waste? Obviously we don't want shortages, but that doesn't seem to be an issue if so much is wasted. How are shops/supermarkets receiving so much food that won't be sold before its expiry date?

I think some of it is to do with the weather and consumer habits. Supermarkets need to order in advance. If we have a wet August bank holiday weekend, I can guarantee by midweek we will be overrun by strawberries, hot dog buns and burger baps at our Community Fridge.

Negroany · 09/11/2025 18:06

We have two of these in my town.

One is 100% to reduce or eliminate food waste. They sell things get cheap and have free days. I use it now and then, and I'm not struggling at all.

The other is for people in need, and I don't use that one.

If it's for the former reason, he should definitely use it if you can use the items he gets.

DeedsNotDiddums · 09/11/2025 18:05

Maybe he could sign up for Olio or Too Good To Go?

Grammarnut · 09/11/2025 18:05

JudgeBread · 08/11/2025 20:18

Honestly as someone who genuinely has struggled for food and had to live on rice and ketchup for a while, you're under reacting.

Your husband is absolutely disgusting. He's quite literally taking food from people who need it. He's vile.

It's not a food bank, it's intended to stop perfectly good food being thrown away by supermarkets. But, and I think this is the point, because it is what it is those in desperate need can freely use it without feeling uncomfortable. OP's DH should take that idea on board. He should not stop using it, but perhaps take one thing a week (a small thing) because the participation of those who are not in need helps those who are to take part as well.

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:04

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:03

Then it’s likely a ‘membership’ type that requires some sort of sponsorship or referral letter from a ‘professional’

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No.

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:04

MumoftwoNC · 08/11/2025 20:28

Yes, so is ours technically open to everyone, but that doesn't mean one should be grabby if you don't need it. There's nuance with everything. If you have more than you need, then you shouldn't take free handouts that other people need more.

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This

Fiftyandme · 09/11/2025 18:03

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:00

My food pantry does. It also takes donations of food

Edited
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Then it’s likely a ‘membership’ type that requires some sort of sponsorship or referral letter from a ‘professional’

Roobarbtwo · 09/11/2025 18:03

Lindy2 · 09/11/2025 08:41

He's using a Community Pantry in exactly the way it's supposed to be used.

You don't make food donations to a Community Pantry. Shops donate the food they are going to have to throw away because it's reaching it's use by date. Schemes like this need lots of people to take some items or the food goes to waste - completely defeating the objective of the Community Pantry.

It's not a food bank.

Surely it's not that difficult to understand the difference between the two?

Your husband is not doing anything wrong at all.

My community pantry takes food donations from people

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