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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

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:
TheSlug · 30/04/2013 13:21

Do you know what I am doing this summer OP?
I've got some funding to feed the kids (via a field kitchen and some army tents) who will be starving over the summer holiday as they wont get a free school dinner?
In 2013.
In England.
It's disgusting.

Awful!! really shouldn't read this thread as I'm very hormonal today! Although I have just donated online to my local foodbank, and printed out the shopping list to take with me on my weekly shop. 26% of children in my town are living in poverty Sad

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 30/04/2013 13:27

Yabu. Can you really not imagine the delight on the children's faces at being able to have something normal like banana custard. Doesn't seem much to us but by god will it be appreciated by kids who have nothing and who probable need a hot pudding given mummy and daddy may not be able to currently afford to heat the house.

These kids will enjoy the treat.

madamimadam · 30/04/2013 13:27

Jesus, TheSlug, I missed your first point. Fucking hell.

You're right, Custardo. Britain in 2013 shouldn't look like this. I hope any of us who get approached by anyone canvassing for Thursday's elections will highlight food banks and child poverty as an issue.

MNHQ, is there any way we could get an MN campaign going about this? I can't as a mother sit here knowing what other families are going through without doing everything I can to change this dreadful situation.

I know you've probably got your hands full with the great campaign on childcare ratios but this thread has upset me more than any MN thread for a long time.

pizzaqueen · 30/04/2013 13:29

Not read the whole thread but it has made we want to donate to food banks and the first things i will donate is a big tin of biscuits! Everyone (especially these families) deserve a little treat.

We have been cutting back our supermarket budget for weeks now as everything is just getting too expensive (£70 a week including nappies), but this is a luxuary budget compared to the sacrifices some families are making, mostly through no fault of their own. Heartbreaking.

SoftSheen · 30/04/2013 13:31

YAB extremely U.

People who use food banks are likely to be both deficient in calories and unable to afford to heat their homes. Foods like custard, tinned rice pudding and biscuits are ideal because they are calorific and warming, and require little cooking (which uses electricity).

Whenever I make a food bank donation I always include some biscuits or chocolate- it will be very likely the only 'treat' the recipient gets that week. Also remember that many users of food banks are families with children, who will certainly appreciate a few sweet things.

LucilleBluth · 30/04/2013 13:32

It is upsetting to think of kids going hungry, especially when my own three have access to so much and turn their noses up at things, a punnet of Strawberries or blueberries are demolished without a thought in this house.

I have googled my local food bank and will be donating tomorrow......it's actually next door to my dentist, I had no idea.

Squitten · 30/04/2013 13:32

We have a food bank here that is getting more and more heavily used. They are regularly outside our supermarket asking people to donate.

At Easter time our kids got a ridiculous amount of eggs - large family who are obsessed with giving them sweets and go nuts at Easter! We donated about a dozen to the food banks and I hope that some kids who otherwise would not have had one might have received them.

Weegiemum · 30/04/2013 13:33

TSC if you don't mind I'm planning to pinch your idea to pitch locally (I work in literacy for young mums in a Glasgow housing scheme where 60% are on FSM).

No idea how I could manage it but, hey, it's 8 weeks till the summer holidays here, and I know church groups would volunteer.

Many thanks for he idea!

Wheresmycaffeinedrip · 30/04/2013 13:33

Plus, pasta is filling yes but sugar and calories are important to and custard would deliver some much needed calcium fat and calories!

LEMisdisappointed · 30/04/2013 13:34

I can't afford to donate to a food bank just now Blush so in light of this thread i have just sent an email to enquire about volunteering at our local food bank. AGAIN, im sat here with tears in my eyes, I live in a affluent area with more boden than you shake a stick at, and STILL there are people that cannot feed themselves and their children, its shameful :(

Thankyou OP for this thread, ive not been feeling very good recently and have been thinking about doing some volunteer work, this thread has given me inspiration - it will do ME good. Oh and it is good that you have seen the error of your ways.

I have thought about this thread alot and of COURSE folk should have luxuries but if i do think that the bulk of one's donations should be staples because whilst a tin of peaches and cream is lovely, it would be pants if foodbanks could only offer sweets etc. But yes, people need nice things as well as pasta and chick peas.

CMOTDibbler · 30/04/2013 13:35

Good on the OP for coming back with a changed POV.

And I've donated to a local food bank too

PearlyWhites · 30/04/2013 13:40

Wow op you really are quite unkind.

Fillyjonk75 · 30/04/2013 13:44

I think cheap, sweet things like custard and biscuits are a good idea as they will contain a lot of calories per penny and actually, you know FILL PEOPLE UP and stop them from being HUNGRY.

Crinkle77 · 30/04/2013 13:46

Surely they deserve a treat every now and then?

madamimadam · 30/04/2013 13:48

Pearly' the OP has had the grace to change her mind. (Possibly a first for AIBU...)

Credit to her for doing it - and inadvertently highlighting what everyday poverty means in this country. In 2013. What sort of society have we become Sad?

Scholes34 · 30/04/2013 13:49

You can't make a decent tomato sauce for pasta with your Basics tinned tomatoes without some sugar.

MrsDeVere · 30/04/2013 13:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

catsmother · 30/04/2013 14:03

I've seen the OP's backtracked - fair dos on her coming back and doing so - but also recall a similar attitude from someone else in another recent thread about foodbanks. Basically - the "shock horror" aspect that anyone in desperate need should be "treated" in any way at all. The worst thing is that there are probably many more people out there who also think like this - and haven't posted on Mumsnet to have the error of their ways well and truly pointed out to them!

Quite apart from the many reasons already listed as to why people in need shouldn't be excluded from so-called "treats", what amazes me is that food banks don't just post up any old random list of "stuff" off the top of their heads - what they ask for has been thought through and has been listed because it is needed. I've said it before but food isn't just for the body, it's also for the soul. Whatever - why quibble about what experienced workers in the field have decided would make good useful donations ?

NC78 · 30/04/2013 14:04

This thread has tempted me to add a bottle of wine the next time I donate to my local food bank.

Weegiemum · 30/04/2013 14:04

You were on net mums, MrsDV?

No Biscuit for you, then!

Original poster
topbannana · 30/04/2013 14:19

So here I am back again Hmm
For all those who are still harping on about what a mean spirited bitch I am, please take the time to read ALL the thread. And as a PP said (and I thank her for a lone voice of kindness amongst the storm) any donation is good. My original post stems really from a lack of knowledge as I was unaware there even were food banks around my way or indeed that most were not self-referring. And in no way did I suggest that "these people" should survive on, as another PP so eloquently puts it "a bag of gruel and a weary cabbage"
So DS and I are off later to buy some bits for the collection on Sunday (including biscuits- shock horror Wink)
And for any of you lovely people involved in any such venture, a little explanation would help judgey folk like me get over their prejudices and understand what you are trying to do (one local bank is appealing for dishwasher tablets, I assume for a machine in the kitchen where they cook for the homeless. This is not mentioned so I COULD be left wondering why people in need of a food box also need dishwasher tablets IYSWIM) :)

OP posts:
ArtemisKelda · 30/04/2013 14:20

TSC, someone upthread mentioned Asda community life. A lot of Tesco stores also have a community champion, might be worth checking at your local Tesco.

One of our local scout groups has offered to pack bags to raise funds for the foodbank, your local scouts may be interested in helping your plan.

MrsDeVere · 30/04/2013 14:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

freddiemisagreatshag · 30/04/2013 14:24

Shock you got Banned Mrs DV but I've never seen you say anything remotely ban-worthy

dotnet · 30/04/2013 14:25

I'm afraid I think YABU, as well. In my book biscuits, sugar and custard are all normal foods everyone has in their cupboard (biscuits not all the time - they get eaten too quickly!- but surely everybody buys a packet of biscuits, or two, at least once a week.)
As for the rice pudding - if I had to go to a foodbank (thank God I've never been in that situation) I'd forego the rice pudding. It's disgusting! But I gather it's 'good' food all the same, and for the poor misguided souls who like the stuff - it's a comfort food.