Food bank faux pas??

[mydogishot]

I was given (not sure why) a massive box of packs of incontinence pads and pants.
I've been trying to give them away.
No one wants them. I've tried hospices, hospitals, help the aged etc
Worst of all food banks. Russel trust person said and I quote "we don't take things like that!" And laughed whilst hanging up.

Now, I only asked because they've asked for personal items before.
I now feel like giving them nothing (stroppy)

Was I wrong to ask?

*many women with heavy periods do

I know the people who need to use food banks would still benefit from my donation, but I’m far less inclined to do big donations again,

Wow. Way to make it about yourself! Why do you think the volunteers should be falling over themselves to bow and scrape?

@OP - I suspect a local old people's home would appreciate the donation

I work in a Nursing Home. I am pretty sure most Nursing Homes nearby would be very grateful for the donation. The brand of incontinence pad you can buy in the supermarket tend to be of a higher quality than those which Social Services provide.

Other than that, yes, a charity shop. These things can be very expensive normally.

user - charity & voluntary work are all about ‘repeat business’.

I’ve volunteered at a different charity for years. No way would I ever treat donators the way I was treated. If you can’t run the service well, I doubt the end users are considered well either.

Thanks for your Ill-judged comment though,

bbcessex like you, I did a big collection (£150+), delivered it to the centre and got eyed suspiciously: "is this all in date?" and then I got yelled at for parking in the wrong place (I wasn't local to that particular area so unaware of the nuances of parking there) instead of hanging around to get further insulted, I left. I'm not in it for the gratitude, I genuinely think this is a good service to provide to those who need it and I'm in a fortunate position to donate like this, however if I'm being honest this experience put me off. I'll continue to donate but via the supermarkets now.

I think foodbanks would find a financial donation much more useful than someone doing a large shop and dropping it off.

If you put stuff in the supermarket collection that's not needed or suitable, I think the supermarket allows them to swap for something else.

If you're going to spend £150 or £250, surely better to let the experts decide how to spend it, take advantage of bulk buying etc. Plus, much easier to just donate online.

However, I can't believe they turned down OP! Especially when they accept pads and tampons etc.

I too need to know who sent these to the OP

The attitude of the volunteer you spoke to needs work, not yours, irrespective of whether the item’s on their acceptance list or not (and IMO it should be anyway for reasons PPs have given).

Nursing home - particularly one which offers EMI care. I take a pack with me every visit even if the lady I visit has plenty. They're always in need of them.

The food bank person was ignorant.

Thanks all, I'll try some nursing homes and day care centres tomorrow and then I'll drop to charity shop.

Have no idea where they are from.

Only thing I can think is I do quite a few online competitions and enter silly games and things just whilst I'm in car waiting for various kids!
Probably won fifth prize or something!
It is still quite random though!

How rude of them to laugh at you,when you were just trying to offer them something! I'm surprised you're having such trouble trying to find someone to take them actually.As others have said I think nursing homes would be your best bet, or you could try good old Facebook,I'm sure they'll be someone out there who would be very glad of them .Good luck.

My daughter did some fundraising/awareness raising on period poverty as part of her ncs social action work. They had agreed with the local food bank manager that they would pass on their donations, both cash and San Pro. Then when they went to drop stuff off a rogue volunteer tried to decline it.
I know they have an issue with storage sometimes, but some volunteers have rubbish people skills and want to be in charge. I bet your local nursing home would appreciate them.

Lots of people in our area put things like this on local Facebook pages.
There’s usually a carer who has someone they care for that need them and snap them up, or a nursing home, dog charity etc.

I had a big lot of incontinence sheets I bought online for night time potty training. Dd picked it up v quickly so I hardly needed any of them. I gave the rest away on my local Facebook freebay page. They were in high demand and were collected the same day.

Yes to a charity shop - we have seem packs of pads or nappies or sanitary products or similar and as long as the packaging is unopened we're happy to sell.

When DM passed away her health visitors and care team were very happy to be given all the unused pads, sheets etc as they are never given any to use as spares /emergencies for their patients.

Maybe homeless shelter or refugee camp?

Is there a Salvation army shop near you? The one near me often has them on sale, even part used packets.

Bizzare you probably need to educate them on incontinence pads. Many women after birth need them.

Perhaps young girl who didn't know better..

Your local church would probably find a good home for them
OP

Yep nursing home or residential very sheltered housing (not just for elderly but charities running homes for severe learning disabilities) will bite your hands off for them. It really is so sad there’s no where to donate as they are very expensive and it takes a while to get them sorted with NHS. I’ve had numerous patients using towels/old clothes as they couldn’t afford pads and didn’t realise they could get NHS support.

Yes, I think Freecycle or local selling page is your best bet.

Russell trust have very specific guidelines and rules as to what they can take and give. My parents help run a church based food bank with no such restrictions, are there any local independent food Banks! They would happily take pretty much anything offered.

I had to get rid of a boxful after my Dad died, the local Hospice shop took them along with his furniture, wheel chair and loads of other stuff.
The men who came to collect it all were really nice, they could see I was upset (although I was holding back) and said how much difference the donation would make to people's lives.

After my dad died I took unopened packs of continence pads to the residential home round the corner from me (I phoned ahead, obvs)

They practically bit my arm off! I was so pleased they went somewhere useful.

Disappointing to read op. I know someone who would be grateful for such things so I don’t understand the responses. Also disappointing to hear about the food banks. You would expect some sort of thanks for such large donations, even if they were fully stocked! I have to say, my one experience of volunteering at a food bank left me feeling a bit like a spare part.