Food banks

Absolutely. At the local food bank, clients have to be referred by a GP or social worker and provide bank statements. Only then do they get a carrier bag or two of supplies. And that's only for 2 occasions - after that they have to re-apply and have to look at their finances. I don't like that last stipulation as it insinuates that it's the recipient's fault. If wages and/or benefits are too low, no amount of financial re-arrangement can change that.

Exactly. I have seen people donate in these boxes too, without any looking around for validation, or fanfare. The way it should be.

You are taking the piss OP.

See if GoodGym operates near you.

They are volunteers who help with gardening to get fit themselves.

you need to stop with your sexism and ageism.

it is tedious.

Maybe not. But it’s hardly essential expenses

Men 60 plus older men this is a bigger range as its a multiple time a day thing. As the woman thing is like a twice a week thing

There is plenty of people who use them that aren’t on the bones of their bum..
You don’t have to be destitute and starving.
it shouldn’t be a choice between clearing rubbish creating a clean space and eating food.
Both are important.
Go to the food bank. Google charity tables in your area.

Funny how you don't specify the age and sex of these people 🧐

Using a supermarket and working in one is not the same

This - you can’t just use it because you have other (non-essential) expenses you’re choosing to make.

I’m sure you need to be referred to use a food bank as well, although never used one so not certain.

Do you have a community kitchen type set up locally instead? We have quite a few in our area. Might be worth having a look to see if there’s anything else.

Because they are. Just like it's older men who are really pervy to the young female staff

Isn't it? I use several supermarkets with donation points. I have never seen anyone loudly exclaiming they are donating whilst chucking in a few Stamford Street/Tesco value tins.

Actually that’s ridiculous!

Surely it isn’t for people who want to spend the money they have for food to pay someone to do a job?

Its the same as the people who buy the homeless a sandwich and shove a camera in their face to post on social media so everyone can tell them how charitable and caring they are

The bigger food banks usually require a referral and usually only allow 3 referrals per person in an amount of time. The one near me is no more then 3 referrals in 12 weeks. Smaller grass roots or church food banks often don't. A lot of food banks also generally run a "community pantry" or "community fridge" where for a donation of between around £3 and £5 you can fill a carrier bag, these are open to everyone.

Our local community pantry is at the local school, it's £5 for a bag for life and £8 for an "aldi or lidl" big bag. There is all sorts of stuff, meat, veg, toiletries, cupboard staples. They also have a school uniform stand where you can pick up various school uniform items for free, not just inform for the school it's held in but also other schools - lots of general supermarket navy blue/ green/ red jumpers and cardigans, grey/ black trousers and skirts and tights. It is very well attended by all walks of life. They are all close to date/ past best before/ excess food bank stock.

Olio can be good but also a waste of money as sometimes items are not really appropriate to make meals from.

Weeding the garden is an activity you can do with kids, come on now. Get them out there helping. Or if they aren’t capable, set them up with toys/ipad or whatever on a sunny day while you crack on. Paying someone to do this is madness.
i second the idea of Facebook market place to get someone to help with a tip run for a small fee.

How odd.

Food banks are for people who can’t afford food rather than wanting to spend money getting rubbish taken away.

push off with your sexist ageist crap.

You could have said "people" but no - you want to dig on older women.

Slow. Fucking. Handclap.

Half an hour to clear a garden of brambles and get up to the tip and back?

I work in a shop where we have a trolley to donate to the food bank and their are a few people usually women around 60 years old who will buy a few tins of the value stuff and then really loudly so everyone can hear tell you about how they are donating to feed the poor kids

This has been argued about before on here.

foodbanks are different to community pantry’s and food wastage places.

foodbanks in date food, often refer needed, depending on area. Donations often from individuals.

pantry, to reduce landfill, perfectly good food needing used. donations usually come direct from supermarkets short dated produce.

get onto Facebook OP and search for local area options.

also look at community support and networks.

can you offer something? Walk a dog or help someone in exchange for a van run to tip.

gosh thanks - 2 in 6 months seems very few and that really reinforces my (possibly misguided?) personal reasons for wanting to be sure that my donations go to a responsible foodbank that isn't going to just hand over food with barley a check.

I also think that a lot of us have personal "red lines" or reasoning that seem normal or reasonable to us, but not to others. For eg i will often give homeless people money (if you see them often, you tend to know who they are and where they will be) and often offer to get them food or whatever. I get criticism from some people i know for that because "nobody here needs to be homeless".

So thanks for answering, i have no idea about foodbanks beyond that i donate food. Which makes me very lucky, i know.

It’s also overrun with weeds and brambles and I thought I’d have time to do it but I have a toddler and child with additional needs, and no village!

No but you do have a husband.

Why can he not do it or you could do it together?