Food bank items

[EatSleepRantRepeat]

I've been given some supermarket vouchers from work and I'd like to buy some extra items from the food bank with it. If you work for a food bank or have used a food bank, what kind of things do your clients really want or look forward to?

I've checked the local wishlist but it's things like brown sauce and bags of sugar (so non-essential for most people) and frey bentos pies & powdered mash, which I personally wouldn't eat or serve to people at home. They wouldn't go in a microwave either because of the metal packaging.

Do people actually eat and enjoy those things, or are they just shelf-stable but people are too polite to decline? What happens to people like me with food allergies - is it bought in or is it tough luck?

I usually just buy laundry liquid and tampons/pads but there aren't the usual bulk-buy offers on this week so fancied buying something different.

(Before anyone judges me, I'm not policing anyone's dietary habits, I'd just rather spend my money on something foodbank users would normally eat and enjoy. I've never been able to volunteer in one because they're not open outside of working hours).

Stuff like powdered mash you say do people eat these - Er, yes they do.
Powdered mash is great along with stuff like cup a soups as it only takes boiling a kettle.
Not everyone has an oven, or means of spending lots on fuel.

With any food donation, give some thought about energy consumption/costs and how long something takes to cook.

If something needs to go in an oven for quite some time at, say 200c, it can work out quite a costly meal.

@PinkSyCo

Pet food. They can't ask for it as would get a huge backlash

Seriously? Do people expect people who’ve fallen upon bad times to just give up their pets then? How sad.

I foster for a rescue charity and sadly people give up their pets if they can't afford to feed them.

We run a pet food bank to try and help them and reduce the numbers given up or even worse, abandoned or dumped.

OP I'd just donate what they ask for and the more expensive tinned meats and tuna are probably a good choice.

The reality is that people who need food banks are also often in fuel poverty with limited facilities hence the need for food that doesn't need refrigerator or much cooking.

Although if they have access to a slow cooker as well as a microwave and kettle, that can hugely improve the variety of food that is accessible.

But everyone's circumstances and resources available are different, so hopefully the support available can be tailored to people's needs and wants as much as possible.

I don't understand for example why someone in a bedsit wouldn't want cous cous. The instant sachets can provide a hot tasty meal with just a kettle and are probably better for you than something like a pot noodle. It's also not the case that just because someone is short of money, that they also want to eat rubbish and wouldn't like something like cous cous.

@Jojobees

My local food bank has just posted a desperate plea for everything. They received 1300kg of food donations and gave out 4500kgs last year and literally have nothing left. I’m not overly wealthy at all but can spare £20 this month, would it be better to buy lots of the things they’ve asked for ( but budget brands) or fewer more luxury items? Genuine question.

I bought one of everything on the list yesterday it was just over £10. Own brand. Not deliberately cheap.

A lot of places get given food but maybe donate some pads or tampons their hard to come by when your homeless but will be much appreciated by the women that need them

@Missey85

A lot of places get given food but maybe donate some pads or tampons their hard to come by when your homeless but will be much appreciated by the women that need them

I wouldn't unless it's on their list. The one I donate to specifically says not to as they have a relationship with a supplier who donates them so they have loads.

What did you decide to buy in the end EatSleepRantRepeat?

Pot noodles or something easy like that?

As a volunteer, I would also advise against specific dietary items. They often go out of date before they can be used and we can buy specific items if a client needs them.
We also welcome pet food donations and larger size nappies but are overrun with sanitary products.
The best advice is to give what your food bank is asking for as they are the ones in the know.
And thank you to all who donate. I can promise you it makes a massive difference.

@formerlyspeckledyhen I got quite a bit! I tried to go with stuff that was on the list but would be pricey to buy themselves from petty cash. I couldn't find any of the fabled pies but chose lots of nice-looking tinned stuff like chilli and some non-meat options for people who are veggie/halal, dried pasta in sauce, flavoured couscous sachets, powdered milk, mash, laundry pods. Plus some treats like fruit shoots so thanks to the people who suggested those! I was looking at things that were in lighter packaging for the bus but they were mainly stuff they'd have already.

I am only a few posts in but I adore Fray Bentos pies and spam... (sorry)

Well done Op, you’ve done a really good thing

I like Spam and buy it reasonably regularly, same for corned beef, which we have as a stew that we call corned beef hash, which is different to what most people seem to call CBH and I'm always surprised when people say things like 'can you even still get Spam?'.

But I'm curious about Fray Bentos pies and think they are likely to be in the same category as Findus crispy pancakes, where you remember them being nice as a child but are now disappointing, probably because they've removed the salt and E numbers and, being relatively cheap these days, have hardly any meat in them.

@BarbaraofSeville

I like Spam and buy it reasonably regularly, same for corned beef, which we have as a stew that we call corned beef hash, which is different to what most people seem to call CBH and I'm always surprised when people say things like 'can you even still get Spam?'.

But I'm curious about Fray Bentos pies and think they are likely to be in the same category as Findus crispy pancakes, where you remember them being nice as a child but are now disappointing, probably because they've removed the salt and E numbers and, being relatively cheap these days, have hardly any meat in them.

Nowhere near the amount of meat there used to be, but who cares? Fray Bentos is all about the pastry.

Thank you @Rainbowqueeen - I know there has been some arsey responses but hopefully it's helped other people with similar questions to mine. Food's a particular bugbear of mine having so many allergies that people find it difficult to provide for, I've been 24 hours without any food a few times because the place I was staying just had nothing suitable there or close by, and it was miserable.

Thanks to all for the pointers and info. I usually try to get tins of veggie curry, peanut butter, hot choc cup sachets and instant mash so it's good to know that's going in the right direction. Will bear in mind the sauces etc.

Our local food bank often asks for strong carrier bags. I do a food bank shop once a month (around pay day) and pop it all in one of the tough bags for life, the 50p ones.

[quote EatSleepRantRepeat]@formerlyspeckledyhen I got quite a bit! I tried to go with stuff that was on the list but would be pricey to buy themselves from petty cash. I couldn't find any of the fabled pies but chose lots of nice-looking tinned stuff like chilli and some non-meat options for people who are veggie/halal, dried pasta in sauce, flavoured couscous sachets, powdered milk, mash, laundry pods. Plus some treats like fruit shoots so thanks to the people who suggested those! I was looking at things that were in lighter packaging for the bus but they were mainly stuff they'd have already.[/quote]
That’s an excellent selection OP and would be most welcome at my food bank. No worries about lighter items for us because our boxes are delivered to our clients by a fleet of volunteer drivers 5 days a week . Approximately 140 tonnes in the last year, up to 40 per day.

After RTFT all I can say is that I really fancy a Fray Bentos pie for dinner

@LoopyDream

After RTFT all I can say is that I really fancy a Fray Bentos pie for dinner

We should buy shares - no wonder I couldn't find any in the shop last night

Blimey that's a lot @FormerlySpeckledyHen - I can't get my head around trying to run a stable, reliable service for that many people just based on donations.

We used a food bank one Christmas. Please don't be a misery and stick to essentials. They always put biscuits in because people need a little enjoyment. As Easter's the next big calendar event for kids, a couple of cheap Easter eggs would be nice.

@dynamitegirl

A PP just mentioned half term packs. In the run up to school holidays, I make sure I add some multi packs of crisps, things like penguins or clubs and some fruit shoot type things.

Our local food bank asks for pasta and jars of sauce for half term, as most DC will eat these.

Bloody love a Fray Bentos pie 😂 Is it because I am old? Perfect comfort food!

Also be careful with nut products. Many food banks won't put these in their standard parcels because of allergies, though we put them on a 'help yourself' table which is extra to the basic parcel.