DH is using community pantry for free food

If the aim of the pantry is to cut food waste though, surely the more people that turn up to collect food the better? If everyone stayed away because they thought they weren't deserving enough and didn't need it, it'd end up in the bin.

To be honest though wherever a pantry is based will be easier or harder for different people to access depending on where they live.
Either people can get to it or they can't.
If it moved premises then it will still be that some people can get there and others can't.

The random stuff comment reminds me when I was service user at a local MH charity. Our local M&S donated a load of "food" for us "poor ill folks".
We were actually excited to see what it was.
It was about 30 cartons of fresh oat milk, due to expire that day. And about £200 worth of sliced prosciutto ham.

Well yes they could and I am sure some would, but the reality is that if it isnt something that is on the way home, or just around corner then most wouldnt.

But it would go some way to equalise the balance.

But in that theory wouldn't the "well off" people just go to one in the less well off area?
In fact they'd be likely to be more able too because they probably have cars.
Edit: sorry. I might have misunderstood.
Do you mean they should just move where the pantry is to somewhere else?

That's a great idea in theory, but for banks and community fridges are usually completely separate organising run by different people, giving away completely different things, for different purposes.

One is to help those in need, and they give away specific things usually to those who have been referred. They will give away items that can easily make up meals (sometimes they do special packs for folk living in temporary accommodation without a fridge or cooker, so lots of dried rehydratable things).

I'm contrast the community fridge places are too get rid of random food surplus that would otherwise go to landfill. Its usually fresh, short date things. I popped into our local one for a look and they practically begged me to to take a tray of yogurts that 'go off at midnight'.

There's not a lot of overlap in the kind of things they give away. The community fridge/pantry want any people to take the stuff or it ends up in landfill.

@JaceLancs he didn't have to take the random foods he wouldn't eat.
He should have said something and they would have tried to swap a few things (obviously depending on what they had).

You are responding to things I havent said!

The next town along to me has several pantries that regularly run out, great. But there is one that is always on FB posting about how much they have left, please just come and help yourself. We are talking less than a mile between that one (v well off area) and the ones that run out. But they are run by different parishes/community groups. If the one that has too much closed, those donations could be diverted and more food waste would be prevented.

Really depends on supply and demand, if there is enough food for everyone then he is reducing waste, if he's not taking food from someone else who needs it, I don't see the issue.

In my early 20's I lived in Cambridge, and at one point had a flat just around the corner from Waitrose. My boyfriend at the time was friends with a guy who worked security there, and he used to text us when they were putting the reduced label stuff out. He wasn't allowed to buy anything while he was on duty so we'd grab whatever he wanted as well and he'd pick it up after work.

I remember getting 70 quids' worth of stuff for £11 once, including a jar of Heston's vanilla mayo. Best day of my life!

I disagree, I volunteer for both food banks and community larder type things. Very different!

Sorry but pride doesnt fill your belly and refusing to eat free food is ridiculous unless there is a real diagnosed issue. You said "refuse" so I am going to take that to mean that he is picky and fussy.

What I woulld like to know is why you are acting like a mum of a student at uni, to a grown man perfectly able to sort himself out.

ETA....you didnt say he refused, you said he "wouldnt" not that he "couldnt" which me still sounds like picky.

I think most people are missing the point of a community pantry. They aren't food banks. They provide free or affordable food to everyone, so that people genuinely access a diverse community and don't need to feel any shame or judgement in using them. You don't need to be referred. You don't need to be in need. There won't be any questions.

So, yes they do help people in economic hardship. But they wouldn't be anything like a community pantry if people like your partner didn't use them.

He's not doing anything wrong.

People calling OP's husband 'vile' need to chill out, it's not a food bank and he's as entitled as anyone else to use it.

I wouldn't do it personally - I'm not a bargain hunter - but it's hardly crime of the century.

I'd feel a little differently if it was a high food poverty area and the pantry was struggling to provide for everyone, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

OP, why not suggest your husband makes a regular donation to a nearby food bank to balance the moral books? Or just do it yourself. Or even better, volunteer.

Why?
He is using it in the way it's designed for.

@JaceLancs are you sure there is nothing like that near you, they are getting more common. Or you could use one of the apps people have referenced

Food Pantries need the stuff gone asap because it's fresh food that will go off.
The logistics of distributing to lots of different places just wouldn't work as it's done by volunteers.

I can say with confidence that community pantries (not food banks) are open to anyone and encourage everyone to use them as they want to avoid a situation where there is stigma attached to using them.

It's not a food bank, people need to calm themselves 🤣 i personally wouldn't and I don't blame you for feeling uncomfortable with it, but he's not technically doing anything wrong if its for stopping food waste. Similar to to go to go, or olio

I've volunteered at our local Community Fridge for years. You need to check the guidance. If it says it's for everyone then it's for everyone. I find it absolutely galling that we have to compost perfectly good food because that person who is 'more in need' doesn't walk through the door.

However if you aren't 'in need' yourselves, there are ways to use a Community Fridge considerately.
• Don't queue up before opening times, this means that those who are 'in need' stand more of a chance of getting food that will make a difference to them.
• In your financial position see if you can make a cash donation. Anything donated to us goes towards keeping our Community Centre running.
• We're always drowning in bread. Nothing makes me happier than seeing people leave with bread. Please take the bread! Same applies to herbs and bananas.
• Don't take more than you will use. We don't want the food that we have rescued going in someone else's bin instead.
• Consider volunteering there yourselves. We're crying out for volunteers.
• Spread the word. Food waste is so bad for the environment.

Yep, I met a mate after she went to a community fridge. She picked up some satsumas, 2 jacket spuds, Graze snacks and some olive bread sticks.
Now, I am no cook, but if you could rustle up a meal with that lot that you deserve a medal.

I dont know what you think I am saying!

In an area with a have/have not split then better to close the "have" area pantry and divert the donations to the "have not" pantry surely? So that the "have not" pantry still runs out but more people benefit, rather than the "have" pantry chucking stuff away.

You know you could tip him off anonymously so they ban him 😂

@Okiedokie123 but the thing with Food Pantries they aren't about food that people need and can make several days worth of family meals out of.
They're left over donuts and unsold Hello Fresh boxes (which apparently the amount of food is quite small).
They are literally just to stop stuff going in the bin.

On the other hand though maybe no one will pick them up at all if you don’t and they will just go to waste. To an extent it obviously depends on the item & how discounted it is. 20% off something that was expensive to start like a side of salmon or a big joint of beef you are likely not depriving someone struggling 50% off something that was reasonable to start like a pack of chicken thighs or cheddar or a bag of potatoes you more likely are but then again if it’s close to closing time then maybe not.