Food parcel from school

[buddybean]

My 5yo DD has been poorly and has not been attending school since Tuesday. Today someone from school came over to see her and gave us a food parcel. I am confused why did they give it? I couldn't ask them straight because my 1yr old was crying like crazy and they just left saying hope to see her at school tomorrow and this is a food parcel for you. What do I do with it as it has stuff that I do not use except for the tea bag and sugar! Do I return it to them? I'm new to this whole thing as she just started school.

Or... she could do what she planned to do and return them to the school so they can give them to someone who needs them rather than someone on FB who fancies some extra food for their full cupboards. 🙄

OP I got given a food parcel I didn't want once, when I went to a breastfeeding support group at a community centre when I still lived in Ireland. It's so awkward! The woman surprised me and I didn't know what to do. I think she'd assumed because I was scruffy that I was in need of food? I was actually just struggling for me-time with 2 under 2 while DH was working abroad. I ended up giving it back the next week and explaining that we were actually quite well-stocked for food and fine for money, and that someone else would need it more than us.

Is your child a FSM child or Pupil premium child? Military family? Child has disability or SEN? If yes, you are likely getting ahead of half term.

If not it might be they are giving them to everyone because they are aware the fact that a lot of families struggling (but above threshold for school meals) so just giving everyone one (and so struggling families dont have to come in (avoids people not asking for help if needed).

could be a mistake.

I would just ask/email school.

I am from another culture I don't understand why your children can't also eat traditionally British food at home sometimes, they eat it at school. Make them beans on toast one weekend for their lunch etc.

contact the school and ask maybe its just a "care package " because she gets fsm or donate things to the foodbank

@DragonFly98 It's really not about the food they provided. It's about why I received the parcel I am new to school life and just wanted to know if all schools do it or there has been some mistake

When you say she has just started school - do you mean in Jan ? or last Sept ?

It is possible that your local Council is one that still gives help during the school holidays for all children for whom lunch is free i.e. all premium pupil lunches and all early years lunches.

Torbay where I live stopped ages and ages ago, but the next Local Authority over in which I work was still giving help at Christmas - but their help was supermarket vouchers not food bags.

Maybe your neighbour is offered/given one in person today when s/he collects their child ?

Oh I see, honestly I wouldn't worry about it they are just trying to be helpful. If you cannot make use of the food at all just donate it to a food bank.

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon Started in September. I'll just double check with school tomorrow hopefully and use what I need and donate others to a food bank. No sleep and DH at work my kids have driven me crazy I should have asked them before sheepishly accepting it and shutting the door.

I really wouldn't worry about it, its probably an Individual school thing rather than a nationwide thing. you could always ask her teacher when she goes back.

@buddybean it was all probably a bit random and caught you unawares.

@SisterMichaelsHabit - The poster was asking what to do with it. I answered the question with use it or give it to someone who could use it. Most people looking for food on my local page are struggling to feed their families, not just fancy some extra food in the cupboard. No need for the sarky eye roll.

@SisterMichaelsHabit I was looking like I came from a cave when the school people came. Unkempt hair and in loungewear, dark circles (no sleep for 2 nights) a howling baby, a hyperactive 5yo, Bluey episode in the background. I had no time to ask them and they realised the situation and just dropped it and were off in seconds.

For what it's worth I dont think this is the norm. Mine is in year 2 and I've never heard of people receiving food packages.

Maybe they are doing for all families?
My sons school gave all famillies a bag of free food last year every week for months it is a special school though

There's been a big thing lately about children who can't access their free school meals being provided with an alternative. Maybe it's because of that

Just wondering out aloud :

Did you recognise the person ?
Was it school staff i.e the receptionist or a deputy/head teacher ?
Was it one person or two ( as have referred to as ' they ' / ' them ' )
Did they drive or walk ?

I only ask as most schools cannot spare staff during the school day to drop off food parcels, and also most school staff do not know the home address of every child in the school.
Tho it is very possible that it is a local charity that is providing the food bags for half term and as your child hasn't been in school for a couple of days that they were given the child's details / address so the child didn't miss out on the ' lunches '

However whoever provided it didn't exactly provide 5 days of lunches - far too many baked beans !!!
and tea is odd to give to a child, water or squash I would have thought.

@OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon The lady works in school I see her leaving the school gate exactly when it is opened for parents for school pickup. Don't know what's her job though not a receptionist for sure. I checked the school staff page on their website but cannot see the lady's pic.

Hopefully I'll get clarity tomorrow when I ask them.

That's ok, she is probably a member of the support staff if she leaves as the children do. So she could be a TA or a member of the catering staff and has tidied up / cleaned etc. after lunch or Admin.

@DustyLee123 will they think I am rude if I return it saying I don't need it.

I’d send an email to say thank you and a cup of tea is just what you needed. However, we don’t need it so have popped the other bits in the Food Bank collection and hopefully it can go to a family that really need it.

No. They can pass it on to someone who does need it.

No, they definitely won't think you are rude not to want / need it.

I think it is more about being affronted because school thought you needed a food parcel and the foods are of the type and quality that people who need parcels eat. Not very nice OP

The type and quality of food these people eat!!
No we eat food in food parcels because we have no choice. I would much rather eat quality fresh vegetables and meat
FFS disgusting attitudes.

So 3rd day of absence?
Many schools now have a safeguarding policy of wanting to see any children absent for 3 days or more (unless there's medical evidence)
It's not targeted and applies to all children and my school often takes something like a book or activities for the child.
Maybe your school takes a food parcel for anyone entitled to fsm?