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Original poster

Food bank challenge

69 replies

Pinkyyy · 30/11/2018 22:32

Some of you may have seen the new challenge online called the 'Food Bank Challenge', where people go out and buy a trolley full of shopping and donate it to a local food bank then nominate others to do the same. I'm obviously so pleased for a trend online to actually be benefiting people who need help, especially at this time of year, but I'm also not sure if I can fully support people doing this purely to gain credit/recognition online. What are your thoughts?

OP posts:
babysharkah · 30/11/2018 23:00

I don't want to be nominated and shamed into doing anything. I like to do my charity giving quietly thanks and I do what I can afford at the time.

cheesywotnots · 30/11/2018 23:12

People are very generous but I'd be more impressed if the government put an end to food poverty and the supermarket bosses were the ones filling up the trolleys.

safariboot · 01/12/2018 00:51

Right now I can barely afford to buy my own groceries.

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empmalswa · 01/12/2018 00:52

I think it's awful. If I want to donate to a food bank I do so through my own choice.

This 'nominating' shit is ridiculous

AnnieOH1 · 01/12/2018 00:57

Absolutely hate the idea. I don't really care for it when food banks thrust a list in your hand as you enter the supermarket, and I run a food bank! It really just, I know there are clients who literally that 20p packet of teabags is more than they could spend on themselves.

I'd much rather have the ability to buy an extra item at the checkout. It would be so simple to add to self service too. The supermarkets could offer a range of goods, taking zero profit and you could just choose to add on if you wanted to.

How much pressure will be on people to be seen to be doing it if they're nominated who then end up going without themselves? How many will actually take it on board and do something more regularly? Sadly few and far between in my experience.

IHaveBrilloHair · 01/12/2018 01:01

Ugh, no.

IHaveBrilloHair · 01/12/2018 01:04

I bet its some dumbarse hun thing, and theyll all pat themselves on the back because they donated more noodles than anyone else and popped in some free jooce plus/yooneek samples.

shiningstar2 · 01/12/2018 01:06

I think the idea of nominating others is truly awful. Some people are very reticent about their personal financial circumstances. Who knows who is quietly panicking about debt or how to manage Christmas themselves. There are plenty people far too proud to admit they're struggling. You could inadvertently nominate someone who is really in need of help themselves.

PinkFizzz · 01/12/2018 01:20

I'd die off if I was nominated. I was out of work for a few months and am awaiting first wage from my new job. I've had to sell posessions so my son can eat.

HelenaDove · 01/12/2018 01:57

Oh Christ I remember the bulllying some people were subjected to when they didnt want to physically do the ice bucket challenge even though they still were planning to donate.

i cant afford to do a whole trolley of shopping for the food bank but i do donate bits and pieces when i can including sanpro.

HelenaDove · 01/12/2018 02:03

Sainsburys has new food bank labelling on the shelves.

its a new scheme about to go nationwide and will be year round.

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sainsburys-foodbank-friendly-labels-rolled-out-uk_uk_5bfd0fb7e4b03b230fa66a87?utm_hp_ref=uk-humankind

HelenaDove · 01/12/2018 02:04

Poverty isnt a game.

HelenaDove · 01/12/2018 02:17

PinkFizzz Thanks

differentnameforthis · 01/12/2018 03:42

When the poor and needy become pawns in your virtue signalling. Nice. Not.

Iruka · 01/12/2018 05:21

People have nominated me for plenty of stuff on social media. I just ignore them, just as I ignore any post that involves reposting to show you pretend to care about something

cheesywotnots · 01/12/2018 10:52

Why can't the retailers offer to donate food, toiletries and clothing, why are we asked to top up their sales and boost their profits. People donate what they can, not to show off or look better than someone else.

Crunchymum · 01/12/2018 10:59

Lib Dems have a food bank stand outside my local supermarket today.

They are handing out lists for "needed" items. We did 2 shops today, one basket for the food bank and then our basket.

It was on my mind as I started a thread earlier because I have some unopened items (breast pads and disposable changing mats) and I wasn't sure if they'd be accepted.

I donate because I want to, am able to not because I'm fucking FB shamed into doing so.

MiddlingMum · 01/12/2018 11:24

I haven't seen this but it's a horrible idea. I donate regularly to our local food bank, but I buy stuff at the checkout, then drop it off at the collection point - a community space - with as little fuss as possible. Often there's nobody there to see me anyway - and why do I need recognition?

Virtue signalling is a very unpleasant result of fb and similar.

TrippingTheVelvet · 01/12/2018 11:30

If I was nominated, I would think that person is an arse, ignore it and continue on with my being a good person in the way I think is best without being shamed into doing something different.

Theknacktoflying · 01/12/2018 11:31

Not great, questionable motives for donating, but at least the foodbanks do get donations.

I am doing a reverse advent calendar this year .... nice reminder in the month of excess and put in what I can afford.

HelenaDove · 01/12/2018 20:26

i have packs and packs of those Lego cards left over. Could i donate these along with some selection boxes.

Bestseller · 01/12/2018 20:33

I can't stand it and I do wonder how many of these people actually do what they say they do. Fwiw (annoymously) I've arranged a Tesco delivery for the Salvation Army every Christmas for the last 6 years but no-one knows that, except the SA officer.

I think the same about people who do the no Christmas cards I'm donating to charity. FIne If you don't want to send me a card (I probably don't want it anyway) but do you really donate? And if you do, why do you need to tell everyone?

Otoh understand each share is worth something like £10 to a charity, so maybe they are doing a good deed by making it public....

Ragwort · 01/12/2018 20:34

Can I say as someone involved in a Food Bank that please check with your local Food Bank what is actually needed. We had a couple of trolley loads delivered today and sadly it is just excess stock of the same excess stock that we already have. And no Food Bank client really wants catering size packs of pasta Hmm. We have had endless Advent calendars donated but, fortunately, we have very families that use our Food Bank so the calendars aren’t really appreciated.

If anyone is thinking of donating I really suggest you wait until Feb/March when donations start to slow down.

Bagadverts · 01/12/2018 20:39

I think it's dreadful. Also not sure it will boost donations, as people rightly don't like being shamed or bullied into donations.

HelenaDove · 01/12/2018 20:42

Advent Calandars bother me a bit (and i hope i phrase this in the right way) but surely its another reminder to the children receiving them that they are counting down to (what could be for them) a nonexistent Christmas?! I donate selection boxes instead.

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