DH is using community pantry for free food

Our local community fridge/pantry states only take 5 items and is open to everybody. If you have money I might wait until later in the day to get food so it doesn't go to waster, but gives those who have less money have time to get it first. As others have said maybe you could add other items or donate money

Sounds fine to me, like our local one, though like others I think he should aim to take only perishable things that are about to expire, and he should look for opportunities to contribute as well (not by buying stuff to leave there but by growing things or volunteering for it).

The point is increasing a sense of community and reducing waste.

Speak to the people running the pantry. The one closest to me closed because not enough people used it, so lots of food was wasted. They tried repeatedly to encourage more affluent people to use it too, but they didn't. It wasn't a food bank, it was short dated food donated in order to reduce waste (and associated costs for the businesses donating). Your dh may well be doing the right thing

Like others say, it's a community pantry, so it's fine. He should be sensitive when using it, like not clearing it out or not taking items if they are running low and there's a queue, but they serve a dual purpose of helping those who struggle AND reducing food waste.

We have similar where I live for kids clothing. About 50% of my kids clothing comes from there, it's amazing. I could afford to buy new, but it's a resource used by the whole community. That means it doesn't feel like charity, and they are so inundated with clothes it's fine. As it's used by everyone, people from all sectors in society donate, and people see it as a cycle rather than 'charity' so the quality of donations stay high.

OP says this is about reducing food waste rather than providing food for those who cannot afford it. It is NOT a food bank then, is it?

People have weird ideas about leaving yellow stickers or freebies for "the poor folks". The OP's DH is just as allowed to take things out of the community pantry and I am to hoover up the yellow stickered chicken in Asda.

YABU places like that are not like food banks. They are for everyone and anyone, and are about reducing food waste. Food banks don't tend to supply stuff that is out of date or stuff that was reduced but didn't sell.

There is one local to me (is called a Community Fridge). It runs on Monday mornings and people are queuing in all weathers to go in and have 5 items for free.
They limit the amount you can get, so no one misses out.

If they were meant for people going through a rough patch, you would need to be referred to them.

Oh wow that is disgraceful

I wonder if op's dh gives his seat to someone who needs it on the tube, even if he isn't in a priority seat? Or are the seats "intended for everyone".

We have a couple here, they are usually stocked from the Olio app and are open to everyone. Mainly fresh food - veg, fruit, bread. They are open to everyone they are not food banks. Anyone can download the Olio app and pick up food

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.

Im sorry but I disagree. That’s certainly not the intent behind ours. Ours was set up to have a communal place for surplus foods primarily off of the allotments.
Some of the shops also came on board. But we have a very clear message which is that it is for all. And that everyone should give more than they take. Either in food or in time. It works very well and is very popular.

In a similar way, I didn't apply for the Dolly Parton free kids' books when dc2 was born because we have a lot of kids' books at home already because dc1 got given so many over the years, and if everyone took it who didn't need it, they'd run out. Nothing is actually unlimited.

Fair enough if they occasionally have too many loaves of bread. Not the rest of the time. I'd be ashamed if my dh took free handouts he didn't need.

Having people that don't need it use it is more likely to encourage people who do need it to use it.
Is he going down there and clearing the shelves, or just taking a few things that would otherwise be wasted?

Are these rules you have made up in your head? Our local food hub does not state this at all - it is open to anyone of any income.

No missing the point ours actively sends out posts of 100 loaves of bread please come help etc etc.

We do usually give a cash donation to keep it running though as it's done purely by volunteers.

Yuck.

sorry that is awful. Does he at least help with volunteering and offering his skills to help them?

What are the rules/guidelines for using the pantry ?

What a crock of shit. This food is given out to stop it going into landfill there are no restrictions on income. He has nothing to be ashamed of. If the charities that do this wish for it to be means tested then it would be.

Ban him.....LOL!

It’s not a food bank. It’s there to cut food waste which is exactly what he is doing.

Often these things are underutilised by those who need them for fear of stigma so in a way it’s good to normalise everyone using them.

We have one round here and it is for everyone to use. I have often had things from there. Lots of people put fresh extra veg from the allotments. It’s great. I do however make a point of making sure I give at least as much as I take.
So why not suggest that he buys (or makes if they take baked goods etc) somethings to donate. So that he is giving back. Or volunteer some of his time to help out?

I know it's not a food bank I can actually read, but people who earn enough money to feed themselves comfortably still shouldn't take free food that would be better served going to families who are struggling.

Just because he can do it doesn't mean he should. F out of here with that black and white thinking.

But it's to cut food waste, not specifically a food bank, from the sounds of it - if it's open to everyone and he just goes once a week then I don't really see the problem. Obviously if he's filling massive bagfuls then that would be different.

We have one in our village and it’s dual
purpose - to avoid food waste and to alleviate food poverty. No referral needed , open to all. A Community Pantry rather than a food bank.

Sometimes they do a shout out on Fb eg “ we’ve been donated 2000 eggs can people come and take some please, tell your friends …” in which case we would go and take some… But a lot of the time they don’t actually have that much in and people are queueing up. They’ve actually had to instigate a limit on how many items people can take(apart from the above mentioned unusual circumstances when they have far too much, normally due to an admin error within a supermarket). In those circumstances I wouldn’t dream of it.

some people in the village who do regularly and who are definitely not struggling make a point of waiting until nearer the closing time to see what is left. If it’s perishable stuff and somebody needs to take it, they will then take it …but only after everybody else has had a turn

Yanbu op.

People who say it's to cut food waste have missed the point. That's just the message so that people who need it don't feel embarrassed. High earners should not be using this sort of community pantry - he should be donating items if anything, rather than accepting donations

Calm down. It's not a food bank.