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?

Blimey its cliche bingo!

I do a lot of voluntary work for a local food bank, just got back in fact, people are referred from front line agencies because they have real need, and we need to help support each other at such time. Compassion and care.

We are seeing (unsurprisingly) a HUGE increase in need, but we are also seeing an increase in the numbers of folk donating. Kind folk who think of others, bloody marvellous.

It is not just people out of work, very often we see folk in low paid jobs who simply cannot make ends meet. We see mums who come in and are frantic for something to eat because they have given what they had to everyone else first.

Food that fills you up and gives you energy to fight the shitty hand that life has given you, or the time you are in, that's what you need, and you need to know that people care and want to help.

Wordfactory, I am not saying that. I just want to know it is going to the right people who literally haven't got anything in their cupboards or fridge.

Not the people who 'say' they haven't.

melika if someone is willing to go to all that time and trouble for a tin of custard, I figure they're welcome to it, even if they've got ham in the fridge .

And that is why people in my experience have to be referred to Food Banks. And its not a choice thing, it's a need. I have met people at the very end of their tether, people who are angry and frustrated at their situation, people so thankful for help.

Food Banks are not designed as a long term answer, more as a short term help. Where I work, people are given enough to last for three days, after which it is hoped their problem will have eased or a more long term support put in place. Not always works out like that, but I'm not seeing folk roll in on a whim as is being suggested here.

I'm not seeing the majority of posters suggesting that at all, Rather .

Fortunately, not a majority no, but I get so bloody cross when seeing lack of compassion in folk. The increase in the donations we see is truly heartwarming, some arrive with loads, one elderly woman yesterday brought in a tin of soup, the thought and care is out there. Good.

Re the actual food - One of my lovelies was telling me how he'd moved and didn't have the same facilities as he had once had so he needed instant food. He's a homeless man, and has actually moved to a new car park that was his home. So for him he needs food that he can just eat, no preparation needed, because it aint possible. Custard, biscuits, rice pudding, all a big bloody tick for him.

Urbanes a bit of a worry isn't she? Blimey

Most food banks do require a professional to refer and loads only issue 3 days worth and then you can only receive 3 food boxes within a rolling 12 month period.

Amy hungry mouth is the right mouth or do you seriously believe people with money just pop down to one suffer the humiliation of having to ask just because its closer than sainsburys?

This thread has inspired me to make a donation to our local food bank this afternoon, including custard, rice pudding, and a shed load of chocolate biscuits.

Oh this is a horrible thread.
OP you should be ashamed of yourself - don't bloody bother to donate if that is really how you feel. God forbid any of the dirty low down poor people get a free fucking biscuit or a tin of rice pud. If you donate then do it with from the kindness of your heart and not begrudgingly.
Have a from me and choke on it!

Kaluki

The OP changed her mind in the course of the thread.

Urbane -are you some sort of twat? not the word i really want to use here!!!

You clearly have NO FUCKING IDEA!!!

We have been >>this

You see, I could care less why someone needs to use a food bank.

For whatever reason, they are at the point where they are desperate for help. I dont care how or why they got into that situation. I care that there are people in my area that cannot afford to feed themselves or their children. That life is so bloody awful they have had to go through the process of getting a food bank voucher just so there is a few days food in the house.

and no, they probably arent "known" to social services. They have just suffered a very hard time and need help. So no, bloody SS wont "know where the food should go"

we have been skint to the point where we used to feed the kids and eat value cornflakes. Where we have borrowed money from every family member possible. Not because we were lazy, didnt want to work, fancied a bit of time off with someone else paying for it. Not because we pissed all our money up the wall and didnt buy food.
But because we were both made redundant in the same week. With no pay off and barely any savings in the middle of a fucking recession.

So if my donation to the food bank and SA helps someone have a hot meal, I dont care why they need it or whether they have "luxury items" or ketchup in their cupboard.
Because I know how bloody easy it is to be in that position.

We did the trolley dash for the local foodbank.Horrible that they are needed in 2013.With the Welfare Changes-they are going to be invaluable. Apparently the police in some areas have foodbank vouchers, after they arrested a man for stealing food, cos he was starving. Instead of charging him-they referred him to Social Services for help and he got foof from foodbank.

I was always taught to not look down on people, unless you are helping them up.

I was talking to my DP about this thread, he said that he simply could not believe that people needed this, not in a "its not true" way but with indredulity - its so so sad and he said that we will now buy something extra each week. Like he said, whats a tin of 32p peaches

It is not our job to decide who's mouths are the right one. It is our job to just be kind and compassionate towards people. It's better that those who don't need it get it, in the bid to reach out and help everyone, than no one gets anything for fear of giving it to the "wrong" people. If people wanna scam baked beans let them. Because if the alternative is that these program's don't exist then hundreds if people will loose out on what must be a valuable life line.

This thread keeps making me cry :( People arguing over whether somone should have a packet of custard creams! fucking hell.

Please watch this video. Perhaps I'm especially emotional today but it made me sob. Short and hard hitting. I think the ideas come from the children in it.

Kaluki read OP's comment Tue 30-Apr-13 14:19:49 before you wish choking on someone.

In the last few minutes I have issued a food bank voucher to a married woman with 3 children she works full time.

Her husband tried to kill her last night threw her purse and handbag and everything in it into a river her work can't sub her she has no other family