Food banks

Huh.?

Is that so?😉

Where I live, we have countless places you can collect surplus food,as in would otherwise go into landfill. Anyone can use thrm. Some, including my local church, have asked for a donation of £2 per bag as some people were taking tge mick.
If you're on UC ,message your work coach or case manager,who will be able to refer you to a food bank.

Op how much do you normally spend on food a week can you just do a really cheap shop yellow sticker bread tin of beans some potato's and pasta it won't be the healthiest but if it's just for a week

I don't think YABU OP.

All you want is something to eat and a nice safe place for your kids to be able to play - it's not much to ask. Use the foodbank. One day you might be in a position to reciprocate.....

But OP isn’t strictly ‘in need’ - she just wants to spend the food money on something else

It sort of is - the one locally to me gets regular donations from local shops and restaurants, usually of stuff they have to use up quickly. They sell it for £5 a carrier bag and you don't have to prove you're 'in need.' I can't speak for all independent food banks everywhere but that's the case with the one in my town.

Exactly. One statement cancels out the other.

Its really not if you have a fiver left after bills you are poor but you can afford to eat for the week

And for those who are in need of the cheaper food? I presume it’s not an endless supply

How can you be poor and have plenty of money for food? Poor is poor.

I don't know if you're near a Sikh Gurdwara, which provides free meals, but you'll almost certainly be near a church? They will have something akin to a food bank or pantry.
They also may have volunteers who may help you clear the garden.
There's a church near me which does free lunches every Wednesday for anyone in need.

My friend runs a church supported food share. She and other volunteers have to study and pass food hygiene and food storage exams. Its open to anyone, but everyone takes a ticket and its shared out evenly. Any food out of date goes to the pig farm.

What are you talking about the people i have witnessed doing it are all older women i didn't say men or younger women as I haven't seem them. I have not at any point said men or younger women don't do it. I've also said its like when people record themselves feeding the homeless and put it on social media this is usually younger people but it doesn't mean no older person has ever done it. I don't understand what you are struggling with to understand

I cba to tidy my garden, house or clean my car. Tell you what I’ll just outsource those services and then claim poverty and use a food bank 🙄

This ⬆️.. it's funny how it's always older women who are somehow at fault.

Sounds like you don't have much of a clue how these things work on the ground and how people sometimes respond to any sort of 'intervention' from professionals, or even a requirement to provide a most basic bit of evidence/ paperwork.

"You need food for your kids this afternoon? OK just come back with 3 proofs of address, 2 bank statements and your birth certificate and proof of your credit rating please".

Get real.

To use most food banks you'd need to be referred by the council, and if they deem that you're OK to use them, then that's fine.

There are food banks that you can go to without needing a referral - there's no issue with using those either. You're not taking the food away from anyone more needy. You still pay for it, it's just a lot cheaper.

It's just a shame that we live in a country where people still need to use food banks.

Oh and OP, for the garden - got any family you can ask and tell them you'll buy them a bottle when your paid as a thank you?

You could also fill your general rubbish bin with as much as you can (not garden waste but other crap and clutter) and see if your neighbour will let you fill theirs on bin day etc.

You can get a fair bit gone that way perhaps.

Pile it up in one corner so the kids can play

I though the idea of deserving and undeserving poor went out with the Victorians, apparently not!

I'm a referrer for the Trussell Trust food banks. There's a section in the referral form where I have to give a broad reason (or several) to explain why I'm referring the person. There are about fifteen options that I can tick. So no, I can't just refer anyone

Gently, you may not be saying that when you are not able to access any food from the food bank as it’s all been taken.

I think you may also struggle finding a food package that you can use with only a kettle too!

Could you and DH post on FB and ask for jobs.
People like OP are the perfect people who just want someone to do their garden for cheap and would likely happily pay you or DH to do it and it then means you’ll have money to buy things that you can actually eat!

Failing that, buy a cheap kettle and do what prisoners do and cook in the kettle.
You’ll be surprised at the things you can make!

Also pop an advert for a free/cheap microwave as then the food bank will be much more useful to you.

I hope your situation improves soon 💐

Might be too late but 2 out of 3 of my kids schools offer food banks on different days, and they always put out in the emails to just show up if you need too!

No questions asked.

And if they get big donations they put them outside at the end of the school day if it's fresh stuff and can't be kept, (bread rolls, milk) for anyone at all to help themselves.

Idk why people would try put anyone off accessing help. But incase you don't have kids that are in school - you can always always ring your local ones and ask if they offer it.

It's not just for people in the school. HTH

Same. I'd offer to support with debt management and benefit claims but it's not mandatory.

I’m all for donating but what’s the point if it is used because the money was spent on something unnecessary?

I thought food bank users genuinely needed the help. Still, I guess this thread will save me donating money and food going forward 🤷‍♀️