Food banks: what isn't popular with users?

[PolkaDotMankini]

I'm just wondering whether certain items are more popular with good bank users than others. E.g. 500g bag of rice that you have yo boil on a hob vs sachets you put in the microwave? Do people take everything they're offered or decline some items because they're too hard to cook/they don't like them?

I donate monthly and always tuck in both dog and cat food. If I had very little food, I would feed my cats some anyway, so I asked if they accept pet food at my local bank and they said of course! I know they get a lot of cereal and pasta, so I try to bring higher protein items like stews, chili, chicken. Someone I know volunteers at another food bank and says they always need the higher protein items.

Combination of medical conditions means there is very little donated that I can eat at all. This isn't about being fussy etc, the range of whats available that doesn't exacerbate a serious condition is low, and it's nutritional value is also low.
There is a lifesaver, but people are resistant to providing it, feeling that two cheaper cans of something someone can't eat is a better bargain than one tin of something they can😥: Tinned macaroni cheese. Cheap generic is fine.
While it makes people who donate feel good to give 'treats,' they're pointless for those who can't eat them. and are desperate for something they can.

(I understand why these other two things aren't understood, but btw tinned ratatouille, and green pesto sauce, (red tomato/pepper based ones sadly a no.) can transform a weeks pasta and rice for people on very restricted diets.)

That's really lovely.

A lot of this thread is quite depressing, useful to now but still, we are a rich country and people can't afford to feed their family.

Elleherd At the FB I volunteer at we tend to know who needs what (obviously not on their first visit) and make the effort to buy in special items as needed ... that is more cost effective than having endless donations of 'soya milk' ( for example) that no one wants. But we are a fairly small FB and get to know our clients quite well which I appreciate isn't so easy in a large FB.

Why don't you take the ones left in your cupboard back to the foodbank? Seems silly to have them in your cupboard if you're not going to use them.

Our local one is always short on tinned meat.

I used to donate Advent calendars too. Then someone pointed out that it would just be a way of counting down to a Christmas which wouldn't be happening and it was better to donate Christmas chocolate / sweets instead.

Please could someone comment on this? Thanks.

*@Ragwort, good to hear.
I do realize two tins of baked beans could be given out for one tin of macaroni cheese, but if the person can't eat the beans, I don't understand the point of insisting they have something they can't eat. Better to let them have half as much food that they can eat, surely.

I find this question uncomfortable - very us and them.
Who pointed this out to you?
IME most people try and keep things as normal as possible for the children when times are hard.

Hi - I said I put Advent calendars in the FB in a previous FB thread. another MN who used food banks replied as I said above. Following her comment I have always given Christmas chocolates instead.

Elleherd I assume it depends on how the FB operates, ours is fairly small so we can personalise the parcel and discuss with the clients exactly what they can use but I suppose if a FB is exceptionally busy and gives out (or delivers) ready packed parcels it is harder to make them more individual. That is why it is so hard to answer questions on threads like these as every FB is different..

If they aren't celebrating due to religious reasons or any reason really then they'll still eat the chocolate just take the tray out.If you mean because it will be a frugal celebration then an advent calender will add some normality and be part of the Christmas experience.For those who wish to celebrate- around here anyway there are charities that collect donated gifts for struggling families. Or personally I have already collected a few things off freecycle, charity shops etc. I can't see many families who wish to participate saying to their children 'oh we aren't having Christmas this year because we're skint' but still having them count the days down. They'll have something even if it is essentials and a £1 Chocolate Santa. Or secondhand things that were free/ cheap or a charity may provide presents. Christmas Chocolate etc is also nice though and families would be happy with either.

copy and paste from my local food bank
MOST NEEDED FOOD ITEMS 21/9/22
LONGLIFE DAIRY MILK
TINNED VEGETABLES - SWEETCORN, CARROTS, PEAS
TINNED TOMATOES/TOMATO BASED PASTA SAUCE
TINNED MEAT
LONGLIFE APPLE OR ORANGE JUICE
DESSERTS - JELLY, INSTANT WHIP, LONGLIFE CAKES, MINI CHOCOLATE ROLLS ETC.
SWEET TREATS - CHOCOLATE/CEREAL BARS
SAVOURY TREATS - CRISPS ETC.
JAM/PEANUT BUTTER ETC.
INSTANT MASH
TINNED FRUIT
SIZE 4, 5 AND 6 NAPPIES AND SIZE 5 AND 6 PULL UPS AND BABY WIPES
TOILETRIES - SHOWER GEL/SHAMPOO/DEODORANT (MEN AND WOMENS)
TOMATO KETCHUP/BROWN SAUCE
WE DON'T NEED THE FOLLOWING AT PRESENT
CEREAL (PARTICULARLY NOT OATS AS WE HAVE LOTS)
PASTA
BEANS

they are also very happy to have received donations from many harvest festivals as well as windfall apples
they also have a community fridge for other people to use

Oh yes, RoadsideMum on Twitter was saying NO MORE OATS please as everyone is fed up of them.

We were reliant on a couple of local food banks/food services for quite some time (one was a referral only food bank, the other was church based and open to all).

The food bank set out different 'classes' of food and we could pick e.g. two items from the tinned meat and fish section, three from the tinned veg, one from the tinned fruit or puddings, one biscuits or cake etc etc. So to a certain extent we had free choice. I remember that the tinned fish tended to be a lot more popular than tinned meat. Microwave rice etc was more popular than dry. For some reason there were always loads of dried pulses that were never taken! Multipacks of snack bars/cakes/crisps etc were more popular than whole cakes or big sharing bags of chocs or crisps, more convenient for lunches. Long life milk and cereal were always popular.

The church based service operated through cash donations so they gave out exactly the same every week. A tin of peaches, custard, rich tea biscuits, a cheese sandwich (😆), tea bags, tinned potatoes, peas, beans and tomatoes and dried pasta. All Tesco value or Sainsburys basics (well, other than the sandwich!). It was really appreciated but at the same time really quite depressing to have food that was clearly designed to fill people up rather than provide any small amount of enjoyment. Plus none of it except maybe the tinned tomatoes and pasta were really the makings of a meal.

Now I donate both cash and food, and will only put things into the supermarket food donation box that I would be happy to eat and would choose for myself. It's usually nice/treat stuff tbh rather than staples (I figure that the cash I donate will be used to top up baked beans/ pasta/ tinned veg etc as needed so like to stick in nice cereal or biscuits, things like those John West tuna salad packs or fancy coffee etc)

I have a lot of friends who are extremely poor, some are street homeless, others in hostels or vehicles etc. I don't know any who have kids and literally do not have a Christmas purely due to poverty. It might not be a big fancy affair but I don't know anyone who can't stretch to a few charity shop teddies or board games or some Primark pjs etc.

The church based food bank I used to use gave out advent calendars in their food packages in the last week of November and put in a pack of choc biscuits and a mini Christmas pudding the week before Christmas. Definitely very much appreciated! Christmas chocolates are obviously great too but I struggle with the idea that kids should be denied a bit of excitement in having advent calendars just because their parents are poor and they might not be getting the latest tech or designer stuff for Xmas... that does seem very othering.

I went with some schools children to visit our local one. It was a real eye opener and I change how I donate. They are overrun with value range items like beans, soup, rice and pasta. They are desperate for jam, spreads, crisps, snacks, pot noddles, cereal, tinned meats and veg, squash, tea, coffee and long life milk.

They said a lot of people don’t have cooking facilities or can’t afford to cook so pot noddles, cup a soups, tinned hotdogs are great as they can be prepared easily. They said they receive a lot of store cupboard items that people assume can be cooked from scratch with such as pulses but the demographic of their food bank means many people are not equipped with the skills to prepare meals including these. Essentially simple and ready to use is the key. Advent calendars are always required at this time of year too as they plan ahead. Nicer brands are always a bit of a treat, even if it feels more virtuous buying value brands in bulk. I’ve completely changed how I donate, I was getting it very wrong.

@elleherd Did you talk to your FB about your requirements? While many people do donate generically there are also others who contact the FB to ask specifically if they are in need of anything in particular and regularly check their list of most needed items to donate specifically short/needed items.

My local FB do specifically ask for free from items, low salt, specific sized nappies (usually the larger sizes), soya milk, gluten free etc. They also buy in items from cash donations to ensure any specific needs are met.

A while back on here I read a post from a FB customer who was veggie with restricted food due to medical issues. She commented how amazing it was to get a tin of macaroni cheese on the odd occasion and since then I’ve been sure to put them in along with Bisto cheese granules. The FB has since put these on their ‘short of’ list so I assume they were well received. It’s good to hear the own brand is fine as I do worry sometimes as the reviews aren’t great (but then the own brand review isn’t great either).

Please do tell your FB if you have specific needs and what items that are safe for you. There are donators who will do their best to give specifically requested items if they know they are wanted.

I imagine the larger sized nappies are needed as people donate the ones their child has grown out of, but many children are out of nappies before getting to size 6.

I donated, instant coffee, soups, cuppa soups, beans, beans with sausages, tuna. 2 kid type cereal, 1 dilutable juice, 1 2l lemonade
I always see in the donations trolley in tesco weetabix and cornflakes and thought that seems maybe a bit boring and a child would love a choc treat.

Figured all easy to cook or whatever too.

Other options milk powder, tea bags, custard, rice pudding