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).

I'm a local collection point for our village and then I take stuff to the foobank once a week.

If people ask me what is required I (or they) can look on the foodbanks Facebook page to see what they are currently short of. They know what people want.

I also have a couple of people who give me a cheque once a month which I deliver to the foodbank. They use this money to go and buy fresh fruit and veg from local supermarkets who, I am told, also then give them a discount. They don't accept fresh fruit and veg in donations because they say they don't know how long is has been hanging about. It causes me quite a problem in the fruit and veg growing season because people try and give me their excesses which the foodbank won't accept.

I did manage to talk them into accepting 5 bags of potatoes from our local grower but it took some doing.

Regarding the Fray Bentos pies they are very popular. I haven't had one for years but this week I had to get myself a chicken one just to see what they are like. Not had it yet.

@TheLovelinessOfDemons

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.

We are doing pancake Day and Valentine's day before then. Any excuse to send out extra goodies to make someone's day better.

When you are using a food bank life is really shit on many levels so anything that makes a person's life just that bit better is to be welcomed.

@Unescorted thank you for reminding me to pick up pancake things for the community cupboard (in our little town we have the foodbank which is Trussel trust, but also the community scheme which is about taking excess food via FareShare, donations of excess from cafes, companies and anyone else who has a bit extra to offer and people can come in with no questions asked as many go just to save food waste, zero stigma) as last year they really appreciated having the 'just add water' mixes and an assortment of toppings to have on offer