About food banks- just a bit surprised really

[topbannana]

I have just come across a notice in the paper from church, appealing for donations for the local food bank.
Thankfully I have never had need for a food bank but I think they are a great idea and I was happy to buy extra and donate.
The list however was quite specific (understandable) but I was amazed to see requests for custard, rice pudding, biscuits and sugar. In my book these would be considered luxuries, in that if I was short on my grocery budget we would forego them.
Surely the food bank is there to supply people with emergency essentials not extras? As it goes I will simply buy loo rolls, pasta, powdered milk or something else off the list and ignore the bits I don't agree with. I don't really think I am but AIBU?

Well, I for one can see why the OP originally had the attitude she did because I have had to cut back myself and the first things to go were the puddings and sweet junk. My children are not impressed at not getting their biscuits and desserts and would find it very strange that I was donating these very things to a food bank. Having said that I can quite see the logic behind having these items on the list for those that can afford to donate them. I hope that no-one has been put off donating anything that they can afford by the judgmental attitude of some posters. I'd also like to know how many of those judgmental people actually donate themselves and how many were just shouting in principle.
For anyone interested or involved with food banks, Tesco will be having a "food bank" weekend on the 6th and 7th July, so if anyone is interested go and have a word.

In terms of community champion people, for TSC's and similar projects, I'm sure I saw something about NatWest doing a similar thing with trying to get involved in local charity. Obviously they aren't food related but might be willing to help with volunteers to run it, or even money perhaps?

This is a really humbling thread, I like others on here I have been in the position of cashing in the copper jar for food, and remember one memorable lunchtime making a tiny pizza for me and 1yo DD with literally the last 5 items in the kitchen. I have never had to ask for a food bank though, and I actually had no idea they existed in such large numbers until I saw the Penguingate thread linked to above.

Things aren't so dire now although they may well be soon as we've hit a reef financially so to speak. But I hope one day we will be able to donate and we certainly will then.

Wanted to ask though - somebody mentioned value brands making people think that's all they are worth. Would that mean they aren't accepted as donations? Because even when we aren't struggling so much, we still have to mostly stick to value range. I wouldn't want anyone to think we were patronising the poor if we were only able to donate value stuff :( - it would literally be because that would be all we could afford to donate.

Oh it was penguins I forgot what it was on that thread,

fuzzpig that's a good point about value brands.

I bought quite a few for myself today - value beetroot, digestives, sardines, tinned tomatoes - because I know they are fine. I don't mind choosing them and I wouldn't mind being given them.

Don't know how others feel, though.

TSC The tents in parks idea is inspired - well done! Remember that a lot of large companies - supermarkets and financial/consulting type places in particular - have staff volunteer programmes, which give staff a certain amount of paid time off each month specifically for charity and community work. And ones that can't contribute on-the-ground helpers may still be able to give you some sort of help with funding or fundraising, publicity, equipment etc.

I give value food to food banks and I hope the recipients don't mind because I don't give anything I wouldn't eat. They are not to know this though.

That's what I'd hope, as surely some value products are better than nothing (and actually there are some value products I'd stick with even if I won the lottery because they are just as good as 'high end' versions!) - I just wouldn't want anyone to think I was only buying value stuff because that's all 'the poor' are worth IYSWIM.

I was really surprised there wasn't a local food bank listed on the trussel site, I had to google and only found one via an old local news article from when it was set up. It is an 'open house' charity that you can donate money to in various ways but you can also give food - interestingly what they said they really needed was tinned fish and meat. So when we can, that will be what we give :)

TSC, I'm another one tempted to steal your idea, if you don't mind?

And for those that are quoting statistics, how are you finding them? I have a feeling I'm living in an area of Hugh amounts if FSM (badly phrased) but I'd like to see the percentages IYSWIM?

There is a local Foodbank near me, I donated some items including chocolate of course!

We have used food banks. My husband is the only earner and ostensibly only allowed to work for the university, i cannot legally work here. Because our pay ends when terms end we often have 5 weeks at summer with no income. I wish the food banks here could give us a box of basics... When i have gone to the food bank of Virginia (that you are only allowed to access once a month) i have received 1 package of out of date frozen meat (a 4 pack of burgers... We are a family of 5) a gallon of milk a bottle of juice and then a few totally random items. Like 3 huge boxes of slimy out of date salad, a huge bag of prunes which would have been great except they had moth eggs all over them, a bag of some sort of dried beans. Oh, and an old stale cake that was the highlight of the kids day. And that was all you could access from the state funded food bank for a whole month! It fed us one day. Luckily churches have separate foodbanks and you can usually get some choice enough to make a meal for dinner... I was so excited when they had potatoes as that is one thing we all like and fills us up without needing anything else.

If British foodbanks give food that actually makes basic meals that is wonderful. Luxuries like tea and biscuits would be lovely too, but i bet the basics are what the people appreciate most. I know on those lean weeks we have, knowing where the next meal will come from is a huge relief.

Have not read the whole thread but I have been in desperate enough circumstances to need a food parcel. I had been living off one corn relish sandwich per day to eke out a small loaf and the remains of the relish, bought when we were flush, in relative terms, and to allow my DS to eat a bit better. He got what I could afford first. It was heaven to get a tin of beans and sausages and be able to eat it all at one meal. There was soup for the next day and some cereal bars too. And yes, a tin of rice pudding. When you're that desperate the smallest thing makes a difference. A tin of value fruit or pudding may literally be the difference between someone feeling they can make it or giving up.

With regard to value brand - of course they are perfectly acceptable.

I think what a PP was trying to say was imagine how demoralising it would be to open a bag and find only value brands of absolute baisc.

In foodbanks we know that it is a good idea to mix brands and labels and definitely include treats. Our foodbank tries to theme items - so a tin of chicken curry with a bag of rice, or tinned tuna or tomatoes with a bag of pasta. A lot of thought actually goes into putting together things people can actually eat.

We also cater for special diets, such as gluten free or suitable for diabetics, etc - these items are always in short supply so if you wanted to splash out on a pack of gluten free spaghetti you would be making someone's day!

And to those looking for their local foodbanks - not all are part of Thrussel Trust - ours isn't because they are too prescriptive AND they insist on a voucher scheme which we hate. Just try good old google and look up food banks (in your area)

We have a collection box in our office for the local food bank and we all just pit things in until its full and then the food bank guys collect it. Get your local businesses involved - it makes it very easy to donate.

Well done for being brave enough to accept YABU, OP, hopefully some other readers may be prompted to act too
while it's awful that these food banks are needed, its so heart warming that they are so well supported too
same with Christmas toy appeals - is anyone going to say "they don't need luxuries" then, I hope not!

many of the people using foodbanks thesedays are people who have never had to resort to "charity" but are suddenly in hard times. They have tried to keep their heads above water, they have put everything into clothing the kids, trying to keep warm and paying their rent/mortgage. They have been going without extras and luxuries and treats for so long. They are at rock bottom when they ask for help.

My worry is for those who have not got one they can access easily. Or those to proud to ask.
I cannot imagine what it is like having to choose to buy food or san pro (like the scene in brassed off) and am happy to educate my kids about their good fortune and the need to be generous to others

seesense - thanks for saying about GF - my DD is GF - I have often wondered about adding in GF food to our churches food bank box, but wondered whether they would just turn their noses up and say "what has someone given us this for" - it may sit there going out of date! And of course GF food is by and large a lot more expensive than regular so even harder for those struggling to get by - given that our PCT has cut right back on what staples GPs provide even for kids, I imagine it must be very hard for some families to stick to the right foods.

I also hope that lots of food is not wasted in these places due to being short life or surplus to needs etc and I also wish we had more reminders of what to give periodically eg - we have plenty of pasta and rice but need tea and coffee - or we have plenty of tuna but need tinned fruit and veg this month

Can I ask those involved in running food banks a quick question? Is it better for you to receive donated food or a cash donation which can be spent as you see fit?

I wondered if you can get gift aid on the cash donations, so that the donation is worth more?

Our local foodbank is on facebook & Twitter & often lets people know what they're lacking. It's very useful for DH because he organises a monthly collection at his office & finds more people donate if they're told a specific couple of items rather than just 'something off the list'.

Any out of date or damaged food gets put into a help-yourself box along with the toiletries/nappies etc. for people to take from on top of their standard parcel. The out of date or damaged items are at-your-own-risk on the basis that food can't be given out once it has passed it's date but chances are that most of the items will be absolutely fine. It's all stacked in the warehouse according to date so the shorter dates will get used first to avoid there being any waste.

Annie AFAIK, the monetary donations can be gift aided but that is then used for renting storage space, heating, lighting, admin &, in some foodbanks, paying for a manager to oversee everything. At our local one they're trying to raise enough money for a full-time manager but at the moment that job is being done by a couple of volunteers who have rather a lot of other things to do as well! Both money & food are needed for a foodbank to operate successfully.

YWBU.

My DC's School had a donation to the Foodbank at Christmas, I was quite heartened by the fact a lot of parents bought in higher end stuff, i.e Heinz beans, Oreos biscuits with the mindset that people caught in such hard times could do with a treat. ~

I have found this a very teary thread. It has provided me with some much needed perspective.

Good idea to include a variety of food, including some sweet things. Biscuits and puddings are quite cheap so hopefully people can afford to donate these things. I enjoyed choosing chocolate bars last time I donated. I know how much I enjoy chocolate!

I have worked for a large foodbank as a volunteer co-ordinator for two years (style and beauty here gave me fab advice for what to wear for the interview). We have seen a massive rise in demand for our service-we now give out over 500 foodbags a week when I started it was around 250-300 and tomorrow is our first day of being open double sessions for our eat in free community cafe.

I applaud OP for her bravery in posting this comment and coming beck with a changed mind. Her post has resulted in so much raised awareness of this issue. Thank you, so much.
BTW around 2mins into this weblink shows our foodbank and the whole video talks a lot about issues facing people using our service.
www.guardian.co.uk/politics/video/2013/mar/22/jobcentre-sanctions-money-stopped-video