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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have put a packet of penguins in the foodbank trolly?

108 replies

bubblesinthesky · 09/04/2013 09:41

Our local asda has a foodbank trolly and I usually try to put something in when I shop there. Normally its tins or pasta but yesterday for a change I picked up a box of shreddies. I also saw penguins were on special offer so thought I'd get a packet of those too as I thought someone with children may appreciate them for a change.

As I put them in the trolly a woman walked up with a tin of kidney beans and another of mixed beans and said "haven't you read the sign they want nutritious food only, no point giving them unhealthy food". I muttered something about people needing a treat occasionally and went on my way.

Its still irritating me this morning so thought I'd put it to the AIBU jury

OP posts:
ohforfoxsake · 09/04/2013 10:56

The one thing we don't have enough of is tinned puddings - on the 'if we have them' part of the list. We had tins and tins of Quality Street donated by a supermarket ready to go out at Easter. Kidney beans go in a chilli, but then you need meat or meat substitute. Does anyone really want to eat kidney beans in any other form?

Everyone gets the basics, everyone deserves a treat.

Angry that we even need to have foodbanks in this day and age, but that's another thread.

Chunderella · 09/04/2013 11:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WishIdbeenatigermum · 09/04/2013 11:04

Her contribution was rubbish OP!
Yours was perfect!

thermalsinapril · 09/04/2013 11:08

YANBU. Chocolate is good for the morale Smile Physical health is important but so is emotional wellbeing.

Toasttoppers · 09/04/2013 11:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

niceguy2 · 09/04/2013 11:20

I used to volunteer to help collect for our local foodbank but don't have the time anymore so not sure if this has changed or not.

But certainly with our local one we had an agreement with the supermarket that any inappropriate food donated could be swapped at the end of the day for something more appropriate.

Not sure if that's the case with foodbanks in other areas but it seems rude to tell people who have kindly donated that their donation is not appreciated.

McBalls · 09/04/2013 11:25

This didn't happens though, did it?

I mean, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but...

IShallCallYouSquishy · 09/04/2013 11:32

Surely the important thing is you were actually donating to the food bank?

I always walk past ours and forget to get anything. I'm going to make an effort this week to donate!

YANBU!

BlackeyedSusan · 09/04/2013 11:33

it might stop some kid getting bullied bout their pcked lunch. it might cheer someone up.

i like kidney and mixed beans. (good cheap protein) I also love the occasional treat.

nenevomito · 09/04/2013 11:35

How do you know it didn't McBalls? ESP? Woo?

Why comment if you don't believe? I mean, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things but...

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 09/04/2013 11:37

when I go in asda I buy packs of the farmstores custard cream to put in, also put things like pasta and soup etc in ( £5 limit )

101handbags · 09/04/2013 11:37

I give a bag of shopping to the food bank my friend is involved with whenever I see her. I always buy from the list with one exception which is a packet of penguins... so no YANBU, everyone needs a treat and as long as you give the healthy stuff most of the time, I really don't see a problem. At Easter and Christmas they actually ask for small treats - boxes of chocolate, small easter eggs etc.

Lovecat · 09/04/2013 11:39

I know that if I was in such dire straits as to need to go to a foodbank I'd be very grateful for whatever I got, but if I got handed a tin of mixed beans my (ungrateful) heart would sink even as I thanked them for it. Bleuch.

quoteunquote · 09/04/2013 11:40

that woman is a twonktitwanburger please take no notice, she is talking total shit,

Thank you so much for your donation, please keep putting diverse items in, it really helps when making up boxes, especially for families, even things like little packs of jelly, are very welcome.

We end up dividing up multi packs, just to share them around.

bubblesinthesky · 09/04/2013 11:41

Thanks for the list of shortage items. Tuna or tinned meat it is next time. For some reason can not bring myself to donate UHT milk I can't abide the stuff so the thought of giving it to anyone else is horrible even though I know its better for people if they don't have a fridge.

I like mixed beans. I add a tin of tomatoes, some veg stock and a bit of chilli powder and call it mixed bean and tomato soup Grin DD loves it

OP posts:
bubblesinthesky · 09/04/2013 11:44

and yes it did happen I don't think she meant it as more than a throw away comment but it hugely irritated me!

To be fair to her there was a poster asking for ingredients that could be used to make up meals and normally that's what I give but I was feeling rebellious yesterday and thought the shreddies would balance things out anyway

OP posts:
PurpleStorm · 09/04/2013 11:45

YANBU.

I checked the shopping list for our local foodbank, and the items they ask for include chocolate, biscuits and snack bars.

Useful to see the posts upthread saying which items foodbanks tend to run short of though.

GW297 · 09/04/2013 11:47

Useful to know what food banks are generally short of and will bear that in mind for future donations - thanks. Tins of rice pudding are really cheap to donate and warm and filling too!

ComposHat · 09/04/2013 11:49

do they still make penguins? i may have to buy a pack myself.

But YANBU the woman was being a joyless self righteous twunt. How dare she dictate what 'they' can eat!

dashoflime · 09/04/2013 11:55

Kidney Beans?!

Does she eat kidney beans at home? I fucking doubt it!

Pah! Angry

propertyNIGHTmareBEFOREXMAS · 09/04/2013 11:58

Yanbu. I'd have told her to shut her cunt. Reckon she would have taken that badly Grin

Alligatorpie · 09/04/2013 11:58

I once heard a woman on the radio who spoke about having to rely on foodbanks as a child. she never had cookies or other treats and consequently was bullied at school. Now every Xmas she buys a trolley full of treats to donate.

It made me think and i usually donate treats as well as staples. That woman was rude.

cathers · 09/04/2013 12:00

She is talking ass. At our food bank, the most frequent group of people needing food is sadly families with young children. I think it was lovely for you to give chocolate bars- just the sort of thing children would love. Just because you require foodbank services doesn't mean you should just eat pasta and rice.

LovePickles · 09/04/2013 12:02

YANBU, she should mind her own. You're giving and still made to feel guilty?

ClaraOswinOswald · 09/04/2013 12:04

YANBU

Obviously :)