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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

About food banks- just a bit surprised really

381 replies

topbannana · 29/04/2013 21:21

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?

OP posts:
WafflyVersatile · 30/04/2013 01:42

People can probably survive for years just on lentils and toe scrapings, so why bother getting them anything else.

Also they are not a 'brilliant idea'. A compassionate and sufficient welfare state. That's a brilliant idea. That foodbanks exist as a formal part of the benefits system rather than a last resort when the system has fucked up by accident is a fucking disgrace.

MidniteScribbler · 30/04/2013 02:07

Whenever I do a costco run, I always buy a few boxes of something in bulk to donate. Last time I managed to pick up 24 packets of cake mix for a good price, and it only required milk added (which all the people at our food bank get when they get their parcels). I was a bit unsure about it, but a week later, the coordinator came over to see me and asked if I wouldn't mind buying them again if I could instead of buying staples, because everyone was so thrilled to get a treat like that for their kids and they get a lot of staples donated, but not much treat food.

smeeeheee · 30/04/2013 04:36

FFS!! Are you actually from Restoration England??? Sugar isn't a luxury, and hasn't been since the 17th century!!! Just throw the paupers some hardtack and swill if it offends you so much to donate something that hasn't been thought of as a luxury item in this country for 300 years. Christ on a bike, what a snob!!!!! Am so outraged I can't control my use of exclamation marks!!!!!!!

EmmaBemma · 30/04/2013 05:28

It's nothing to do with things being "treats". Custard, rice pudding, biscuits etc are energy dense foods that provide much needed calories when people haven't had a lot to eat.

ohforfoxsake · 30/04/2013 05:51

TSC - I'll get involved.

LittleEsme · 30/04/2013 05:58

TSC I'm in Swansea but I'll donate.

Pancakeflipper · 30/04/2013 06:58

Smeehee - be fair, TopBanana has had a rethink and I reckon her nearest food bank will be benefitting from tasty treats.

Peahentailfeathers · 30/04/2013 07:29

I've never thought about getting biscuits, sugar or tea when I've bought stuff before for the local food bank, although I have bought custard and jelly; thanks for the tip! Glad you changed your mind OP.

Peahentailfeathers · 30/04/2013 07:30

*obviously agree that it's an absolute disgrace that we need food banks. In the UK. In 2013. Angry

Littlehousesomewhere · 30/04/2013 07:33

I read that list of food as cheap staples that will last well.

I don't think it is our business to make a judgement on healthy/unhealthy food when it comes to food banks.

Donate whatever you like!

Dawndonna · 30/04/2013 07:39

Well done OP. It takes courage to come back and say publicly, I was perhaps a little misguided!

YourMaNoBraBackOfMyCar · 30/04/2013 08:00

Well done OP. You came back and held your hands up. I feel bad that people are coming on to the thread and slating you but thats MN for you. Also I think some are forgetting that you are actually donating in the first place and thats a good thing obviously. Thanks for raising awareness though. It looks like a lot of foodbanks are about to get even more nice things to perk those that have to use them up. :)

GibberTheMonkey · 30/04/2013 08:48

Tsc mentioned sanitary protection
Would they like moon cups do you think? Ok they cost a bit more but no more costs.

bubblesinthesky · 30/04/2013 09:10

OP glad to see you changed your mind. When I started reading this thread I thought you must be the lady with the can of kidney beans who told me off for putting a pack of penguins in the foodbank trolly. It must have been someone else.

By the way after seeing the contributions on that thread I put in 4 cans of tuna and a packet of kit kats last time as a lot of people said the foodbanks were short on tinned meat and fish

CabbageLooking · 30/04/2013 09:12

Topbannana - really pleased that you read and listened and then had a rethink. And you have inspired me to make sure that I pop something in the Foodbank box at the supermarket later on today.

DeWe · 30/04/2013 09:56

A local charity asks people to make up food packages that they deliver to vunerable people (eg. single mother just after having her baby). They give a list of suggested things, but at the bottom it requests in bold "Please put 1-3 items you would consider luxury." It does give suggestions of what they would consider that.

What their logic is, that if you treat someone as "Tesco's economy" that's how they see themselves, and that's how they will continue to feel. The luxury item is saying "we think you're important and deserve a treat, rather than here is just enough to live on."

WandOfElderNeverProsper · 30/04/2013 12:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TantrumsAndBalloons · 30/04/2013 12:59

TSC we do a similar sort of thing at the youth centre in my area.

Sadly there's no funding-apparently it's not needed.

But contact all the major supermarkets, they help us out a lot.

It makes me so sad that there are children who do not get a meal if they aren't at school. We get a lot of families there, so it's clearly not just the children who aren't eating.

But honestly, contact everyone you can think of-sometimes you have to pester them a bit for an answer but they can be very very useful.

I hope it goes well.

It is so wonderful to know there are people like you, and all the people who donate to food banks etc that give up their time to do this.

5Foot5 · 30/04/2013 13:02

Also they are not a 'brilliant idea'. A compassionate and sufficient welfare state. That's a brilliant idea. That foodbanks exist as a formal part of the benefits system rather than a last resort when the system has fucked up by accident is a fucking disgrace.

But as far as I am aware the food banks are not a formal part of the benefits system. Our local one is run on by volunteers and organised by local churches I think. Of course it is shocking that there are people so let down by the system that they need this extra help. But while there is a need for them would you rather they weren't there? It is not "brilliant" that they are needed at all, but while the need exists it is "brilliant" that people will take the time and trouble to respond to this need.

I give to our local foodbank every week and at Christmas they were specifically asking if people could give a little extra "treat" such as a Christmas pudding, mince pies or a box of crackers or something. I think onlymthe hardest hearted could take exception to that.

TheSlug · 30/04/2013 13:06

One of the Tressell foodbanks recently provided a food box for a mum who had eaten nothing for 4 days, except for dog biscuits, because she fed her children the only food in the house.

This made me cry :(

Tortington · 30/04/2013 13:09

and then did you see the thread about how people begrudge donating treats like 'custard creams' and 'rice pudding'

this skiver spin has GOT TO STOP

Britain 2013 should not look like this

madamimadam · 30/04/2013 13:14

I'm another MNer who is bitterly ashamed that we have the need for food banks in this country.

TSC, I'm not in your area but would willingly donate to your project. Or to any of the other incredible MNers who are doing similar work here.

Thanks too for the link to help us find our local food bank. I'll be donating from now on.

And I'll be asking any local canvassers that come knocking over the next couple of days what they'll be doing to help too...

JsOtherHalf · 30/04/2013 13:17

Our foodbank is now a formal part of the benefits system in this area. The reduced amount of money given to the local authority in place of dwp crisis loans/community care grants has now been used to fund vouchers for the foodbank.

Vickibee · 30/04/2013 13:20

I agree that is is a disgrace in the 4th richest country in the world that people can't afford to feed their families. Shame on the government for not tackling this

issimma · 30/04/2013 13:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.