DH is using community pantry for free food

There's far too many assumptions on this thread about how some community pantries work. For well over 6 months the one I go to had a table outside the centre once a week where people could basically take as many items as they like - they had to stop this because one day someone turned up and basically took just about everything. It wasn't staffed outside so there was nothing to stop people doing this. Some people on here have said that all you get at pantries is donuts and nothing you can make a meal from. That's not the case at mine

The food bank in the next town from me doesn't run on a referral system. It also doesn't just give out tins. It gives out fruit, veg fresh flowers, frozen food.

I said this earlier but there's no food bank in my home town. People in food poverty are not automatically referred on to food banks. Lots of people fall through the gaps and rely on other places to get cheap or free food. Some people also don't want to go to somewhere like social work and admit they are poor/struggling. A lot of people also don't know where to access services.

And if the argument is that the food from pantries would all go in the bin otherwise - maybe the people distributing the food to these pantries need to look at how much is being given out if that's the case

The community pantry I go to also isn't staffed entirely by volunteers. It's a mix of paid staff and volunteers.

I don't particularly care if someone on a six figure salary buys yellow stickers or uses too good to go - but the OP is uncomfortable because they don't need to be using the service. He could use it once a month if he's really that desperate to show off his bargains - but he's not.

People who actually think community fridges and pantries aren't a lifeline to people living below the line clearly aren't living below the line themselves. The one near me was set up because people are in need.

Some food banks give out a very limited selection of food to people - a few days worth - and some food banks only allow people to use the service three times a year

There's far too many assumptions on this thread about how some community pantries work. For well over 6 months the one I go to had a table outside the centre once a week where people could basically take as many items as they like - they had to stop this because one day someone turned up and basically took just about everything. It wasn't staffed outside so there was nothing to stop people doing this. Some people on here have said that all you get at pantries is donuts and nothing you can make a meal from. That's not the case at mine

The food bank in the next town from me doesn't run on a referral system. It also doesn't just give out tins. It gives out fruit, veg fresh flowers, frozen food.

I said this earlier but there's no food bank in my home town. People in food poverty are not automatically referred on to food banks. Lots of people fall through the gaps and rely on other places to get cheap or free food. Some people also don't want to go to somewhere like social work and admit they are poor/struggling. A lot of people also don't know where to access services.

And if the argument is that the food from pantries would all go in the bin otherwise - maybe the people distributing the food to these pantries need to look at how much is being given out if that's the case

The community pantry I go to also isn't staffed entirely by volunteers. It's a mix of paid staff and volunteers.

I don't particularly care if someone on a six figure salary buys yellow stickers or uses too good to go - but the OP is uncomfortable because they don't need to be using the service. He could use it once a month if he's really that desperate to show off his bargains - but he's not.

People who actually think community fridges and pantries aren't a lifeline to people living below the line clearly aren't living below the line themselves. The one near me was set up because people are in need.

Some food banks give out a very limited selection of food to people - a few days worth - and some food banks only allow people to use the service three times a year

A community pantry/fridge isn't a food bank. It's specifically to stop the huge amounts of food that supermarkets would otherwise throw away and is 'surplus' ie the supermarkets can no longer sell it and it would go in the bin. Our community fridge also runs a monthly 3 course meal where you pay what you can afford. We use the community fridge, they have strict rules on how much each person can take so OP's husband isn't depriving anyone. You get told how many items for each person and then normally they have loads of veg and bread that you can take more of. They also have a collection pot for loose change etc which goes towards running the collection vans etc so we put money in there as well. He really shouldn't feel guilty as the food literally goes in the bin otherwise. For those who feel he shouldn't be doing this, it isn't a food bank, anyone can go. People in food poverty are referred to the food bank and that tends to be food that isn't perishable or on short dates.

Yes and no.

We run slow cooker workshops. We run "grow your own" schemes. The funding bids say how important it is to combat social isolation and build community spirit. We have CAB too. The food hub is a tiny bit of a large charity I run. We host the NHS, local authorities, banking pop ups, all sorts. We've got a community allotment, gardens, all sorts.

Yes, on paper that's what the food hubs are. And yes, to get the money in, you create things these courses. And 5% of the users are there to be shown how to make a stew, and they wouldn't be there at all if they weren't getting a free slow cooker at the end of it. But they do. And it's nice. And the funders get their pictures.

95% of our users need food because they don't want to be seen at a food bank. That's not to say they don't recognise that they are also reducing food waste, but that's more of a coincidental benefit, and a helpful disguise for why they are there.

We actually had to move our community fridge because some greedy women who went to a morning "legs bums and tums" class would grab anything they could on their way past. They would clean it out, every week on that particular day. Having just paid £10 for a leisure class, at a time most people in work, would be working, they'd shamelessly stuff their bags, out of view. Then, someone else who'd been working all day, on minimum wage, struggling, would come in at 5pm, need food, and there would be none.

We support just under 6,000 people in our area.

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

The fact that poor people use a community pantry, doesn't necessarily mean that the community pantry is for poor people.
I'm not sure why some people feel the need to be so righteous about this. Different organisations have different aims. It's really that simple.

While I get it's not a food bank & that everyone can use it, it's very selfish of your husband to take things regularly. There will be others who genuinely need the food & there's your husband able to afford to do a grocery shop taking it. Not nice at all.

During lock down there was a community group in my area that fed people three days a week. It wasn't unlimited amounts they gave away. It wasn't means tested - I personally don't have an issue with community pantries that don't check if someone is on a low income but if two people are in a higher tax bracket they don't need to be using this service.

As other people have said - on that amount of money you should be donating. I give money to charities that help people who have nothing even though I'm far from rich

There are people on this thread saying let the poor people use food banks
Some areas don't have them. Some you can only use three times a year.

Places like this are a lifeline for folk who don't want to or can't use food banks - the one I go to has a community table of free food. They also allow people to pay a pound and get a bag of fruit and veg. And you can also pay a few quid and get cupboard staples. I use it because I'm poor
If I weren't poor I wouldn't use it.

If I were earning what the OPs husband is I would be donating to this pantry - not taking from it.

The way my pantry operates is different now - they used to leave all the food outside but people were abusing it and now there's a limit to what you can take and you have to pay for tinned items. They also have some items that people pay for at a discount (very limited).

If the Op's husband is so concerned about food waste then he could sign up to be an Olio distributor. You get keeping some of the food you save - and he'd be helping other people

There are poor people who don't want to use food banks due to the stigma attached - that's why they use places like this.

The community pantry I use was very much set up to help people who are struggling - not just about tackling food waste. I find it very bizarre that some people think all community pantries were only set up to reduce food waste. That's not the case.

Also - some of the donated items in the pantry I use are frozen - the centre has a freezer - not everything gets thrown away at the end of the day.

Btw - some people don't have the means to get to a food bank all of the time either. The nearest one to me is four miles away from my home. The community pantry I use is a ten minute walk from my house - there's lots of reasons why poor people might use a community pantry rather than access a food bank

That is absolutely disgusting ~ he really should not be doing this. You must try and make him see sense and stop him. I would be so angry that I probably would go to the food bank when he is there and loudly announce that he does not need the food !

I’m not sure how you control this aspect of your DH. If it helps any, I’ve stopped putting fresh fruit from my orchard into our community pantry after seeing one car turn around and swipe everything I put in it.

we do have a pensioner flat pantry about 10 minutes further away so I support that.

I tend to look at people and their trolleys these days when shopping. Sounds weird but a few years ago I was at the pre cooked chicken stand debating what I should get for future lunches and a Lady was there who picked one which was a fraction cheaper.
She made the comment it was all she could afford and I was too thick/stunned/ ignorant to let her know at times I have surplus and could help if she wanted…

Some community pantries are for everyone they are about reducing food waste.
other community pantries require you to sign a fo and select which category of need you belong to.
has your husband made a declaration?

Some areas don't have food banks

Some areas don't have food banks

He is 100% fine to do this. The food waste only stops being food waste if people consume it.

Those on low incomes can also use this facility AND if they need to can use food banks too, a separate and different facility focusing on helping poorer people access food.

For the 11 billionth time - this is NOT A FOOD BANK.

Also, there are loads of these places and just because the one you know about needs a referral or has a particular ethos or mission statement doesn;t mean they're all the same.