I manage a food bank. AMA

[Wetherforks]

I manage and run a food bank in a UK city. It's Saturday night and I'm bored. Happy to try and answer if anyone has any questions!

Do you ever have adhoc helpers? I'm thinking in particular my 11 year old son would love to help out for an hour or so with me also there, but not sure if there has to be a vetting process or minimum age requirement

That sounds unusual. But there could be good reasons for that - grants can come in a odd times of the year and you have to budget accordingly and keep money in reserve. And some grants are for specific things such as energy costs, capital costs for example. We don't always get a say in how money is spent, even when there is clear need in a particular area. 🙂

Happy to give £10 to my local food bank, via direct debit, and sometimes add tea/coffee or shower gel.
Do object to pressure by ads

Best to ask your local foodbank 🙂

Not necessarily, and we'd usually split multipacks anyway - as long as they're individually wrapped. But again, check with your local foodbank!

I like to give nice quality items, sometimes luxury items as I'd like people to have a treat. I sometimes worry that they get 'cherry picked' by people who help out. Does this happen?

I worked as a volunteer at our local food bank until mortgage payment increases meant I had to pick up extra shifts at work and no longer had time. Everyone who worked there was scrupulous about everything donated going to the people it was designed for. The only exception is when we got donations from a local food producer who would send lorry loads of product at times - think jams, specialist biscuits and chutneys - and we would be swimming in it to the point it could be hard to store it all. And the most I saw is a few people taking a jar of jam with much encouragement from our manager when everyone coming to the food bank had been given multiple jars, packet, etc.

There was one paid employee - the manager - who worked at least twice as many hours as she was paid for. The rest were all volunteers, many of whom we would eligible to use the food bank themselves. I guess many of us would hear stories about cherry picking may go on in charity shops, but in the food banks I know, it is absolutely rigorous and above board.

Is it better to give items or donate money directly to a food bank?

I've thought before if I give money it means they can buy what is most needed, but also it feels like pushing more admin down the line! If you get money donations do you get a delivery from a supermarket or would be more likely to go to say general/running costs rather than items to be given out?

@TellMeItsNotTrue and @onestepfromgrace We are so fortunate in that we have good links with Citizens Advice and a couple of volunteers who are trained in benefits advice as well. And I keep an updated list of other services that can help immediately, including things like olio and local places that are doing meals or kids clubs in the holidays for example. Always glad to hear about anything available that can be signposted.

If donating something like coffee is it better to get one big jar that can be split or do you not split and prefer more smaller jars?

Thank you for helping people. 🙏🏽

What is the single biggest factor that drives families to needing your service at the moment? Is it something like debt, or illness preventing someone working?

What is one thing that the next government could do, in your opinion, to reduce the number of families needing your service?

What do you predict will happen in 2024? Will the numbers of households struggling to cope with the cost of living continue to rise?

Is there a danger that demand for your service will outstrip the supply of food? What would you do if this happened?

Thank you for doing what you do OP! How did you come to manage a food bank?

I hadn't thought about coffee but you're right, it is expensive now. Something for me to consider next time.

Are you able to signpost people for help? As in, sometimes people are using food banks as they're not claiming everything they're entitled to. So maybe somewhere like citizens advice can help them? Do you give them any advice on that?

How do you feel about your job? I imagine it's sometimes very sad but you can feel that you're making a difference to people's lives.

Do you want donations of baby food pouches?

It's always better to simply return food if it's not going to be used, because someone else can make use of it. I guess in principle I agree though, that it's none of my business what people do with food once it's given. I've developed quite thick skin and don't tend to get upset or offended -everyone has their own stuff going on, it's not for me to judge!

Oh just saw my question was answered, ignore me! Haha

We have a local foodbank and I've done a few shifts at the supermarket asking for donations. I'm surprised by how many people a) assume I'm paid and b) don't think about what they donate. Fuel poverty is real so yes anything that can be warmed up quickly is good.
The sad thing is the amount of people who take against us being there and the abuse from those who have prejudice against foodbanks. There is at least one supermarket location I won't do anymore.

Check with your food bank, it might be just on certain days or when they can distribute it immediately. Sometimes it's a no, because there's just not the storage facilities available or it can't be used quick enough. But 💯 ask, because faces light up when there's fresh fruit and vegetables available - honestly, it's the thing people get most excited about!

Do you have seafood?

I'd like to make a Bouillabaisse but seafood is so expensive.

@Theblackdogagain, how awful that people give you abuse. I can’t imagine why people would act like that. Saying that when I collected for charity I did get called scum! (not chugging just standing on the street with a tin).

Other foodbanks may be different but our food parcels are prepacked, we do allow one or two swaps though. Asking for multiple changes might cause an eyebrow raise though - we have to be fair to everyone. If you explain about allergies/special needs, we try to accommodate. And have allergy specific food parcels anyway.

I’d like to volunteer, but I’m not a people person. I’m a librarian, so I have skills in organising, planning etc Do you have volunteer roles in a warehouse or is your place quite small so everything is done on site?

In my nearest Asda, there's a trolley at the entrance where shoppers can put things for the food bank. There isn't a member of staff nearby. Do you think anything put there gets stolen? I always take things directly to the food bank because of that.

Also Morrisons used to bag up items for the foodbank and put the cost on a label on the bag - I found that really useful, to pick up a bag whenever I was in there. They don't seem to do that now - do you know why?

if hungry - anything is better than nothing

How do you manage suspected abuse of your service? I’m asking as our independent larder/foodbank have put a restriction of using it twice a week due to some people abusing it.

Check rules with your local. We do get ad hoc volunteers, usually doing packing or behind the scenes stuff rather than client facing. Often service users ask to volunteer for a shift or two as a way of giving back, which is lovely.

I'd caution that it's not always an appropriate environment for a child though - and (not getting at you personally) it may seem like a good learning opportunity or a feel good thing, but our clients are real people with real lives, they aren't a tourist attraction. Respect is everything