If you have direct debit to a food bank do you mind me asking how much it is for...?

[EllenWaiteourkid]

We retired in the last few months and are very aware that it is going to be a hard winter (if not winters. )

We are fortunate to have a smallish surplus at the end of the month and want to try and help out.

TIA

It varies depending on the bank, but yes, as far as I know, most banks buy in food as well as collecting it from supermarkets and other donations (businesses will sometimes donate surplus stock also). Couple of reasons for this, firstly by buying food they can get what their users need, they may have been donated 1000 tins of beans but no breakfast cereal or vice versa, so they can fill in the gaps by buying. And also by buying they can take advantage of whole sale prices and sometimes discounts, plus they can get one big delivery in rather than having to send individual vans out to do lots of small collections, saves on staff and petrol costs. So on the whole, while I wouldn't put people off putting some spare items into the donation point, many food banks would actually prefer cash donations if you have the choice (check first though). And like you say they do have operating costs, councils or church halls likely don't charge them for hire for a distribution venue but most need a warehouse or other storage for their stock, transportation costs etc.

If you don’t have loads to give, also think about how you can reduce food waste to support others. We have both a community fridge and a community kitchen in our local town. The fridge takes any perishable food, so eggs, milk, fruit and veg, ready meals, etc. The kitchen takes pretty much anything they can make into meals for people to collect or that are delivered to those who are housebound. We have a huge garden so I take them a load of veg every week and today took the kitchen like 15 courgettes. But they also take supermarket stuff that you’ve bought that would otherwise go to waste.

£10 to the Trussell Trust and £10 to a charity that provides sanitary protection.

I have just heard a radio advert for loans to be school uniform, shoes and stationery.

The amount of liars on MN is staggering

£20. Via Bankuet.

Local food bank said Bankuet best way to do it....

I donate £15 a month , I also help out now and again at ours and any donation is greatly received. Just donate what you can

I’ll be honest, I get about £5-£10 worth whenever they appear in the supermarket. I try and get the things they need most on their list (usually includes feminine hygiene products or tena)

my theory is that even though we can’t afford to all the time, if everyone that came through Tesco that day just bought a little bit extra then they would have absolutely loads! Even if everyone just bought one 50p item, Tesco gets so many customers!

we also do a shop at Christmas with the kids where we buy a toy from them each for the free radio toy collection and a £50 Christmassy food shop. More treat-y things than normal.

All the small donantions add up, just send what you want without over stretching yourself.

£25 but it’s via payroll giving and I’m a higher rate taxpayer so they get more than that. It’s the only UK charity in my donation mix, all the rest are in the developing world where you can make a bigger difference for less money but this (and possibly RNLI) is the one time I think UK charities are semi-worthwhile.

Yes most buy in food some buy fresh for distribution, I volunteer at a community pantry type and its open weekly, other food banks do referrals and deliver so there purchasing will be different, also supermarkets donate.

£5. It's all I can afford

@Miacarla

Expand please.