Healthy food for the food bank

[Pimpleminds]

DD's school want donations for the food bank for their harvest festival. I asked my friend who works there what they were short of and she said hot chocolate. Spurred on by this I picked up some instant hot choc and a box of coco pops but DD was horrified: 'no mum Mrs X (head) said it must be healthy food for people that don't have the money to buy things that are good for them'.
AIBU to think that if you are using a food bank you might want the odd treat as well?

Just put what you think is right in there. Your contribution sounds fine.

Not unreasonable a mix of food is fine, but foodbanks are mostly after staples. The head is a bit off centre there. I think 'can't afford to buy food' is what foodbanks are for. I am 99% sure malnutrition will damage your health faster than cocopops. Maybe starvation isn't something the head thinks is palatable for kids (but assocoating poverty with an unhealthy diet weirdly this head is OK with).

A mixture is always best. Then people can choose. Cereal is not always great because it needs milk, which is expensive. Anything that takes other food to 'make' can be an issue.

Sounds like the healthy schools message is getting a little overstated

The hot chocolate will be lovely, I usually get what they're running short of (usually uht milk - I hate uht, but I understand why they need to use it).

Never thought of that Mrs Pratchett. Interesting point about needing milk.

I think your friend who works there will have a far clearer idea of what their clients need than the head does.

For practicality, I'd focus on things that don't need anything else added, and can either be eaten cold or just need a quick heat up in a pan.

Is it just food? My local food bank said their real need is for things like nappies, laundry powder (they split into into smaller use bags), toothpaste etc.

I remember throwing things at the telly when Eggwina was going on about how food banks ought to stock healthy stuf......

You did the right thing asking your well informed friend. Maybe the healthy eating message has just been misinterpreted by your DD, if HT did actually say that I think it's a bit patronising and paternalistic.

No it's not just food.
Our foodbank is currently in urgent need of:-

Chocolate
Disposable razors
Evaporated Milk
Gent's deodorant
Hair conditioner
Kitchen towels
Ladies deodorant
Liquid handwash
Pasta Sauce
Plastic cutlery
Powdered milk (400 gms)
Rice Puddings
Shampoo
Shaving foam
Shower gel
Soap
Sponge Puddings
Surface cleaning spray
Tinned Fruit
Tinned Vegetables (sweetcorn, peas, carrots etc.)
Toilet rolls
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste (100ml)
Washing powder or liquid
Washing up liquid

Some of it seems random but there you go.
Yours should have a list on line as well of what they desperately need.

Sort of got it right. I got crunchy nut cornflakes, big pack of twix, rice cakes, sugar and nice fabric conditioner. Didn't think about washing up stuff and milk for cereal though.

Our " food bank " is always in dire need of sanitary protection.

Some treats always go well - biscuits, chocolate, instant drinks etc are always something we love to see. Even tinned desserts like custard and rice pudding!

We don't have the right to judge the dietary choices of those who need a food bank. I'd treat myself with chocolate after a bad day - they deserve that too!

You can add cartons of long life milk, and skimmed milk powder as well, if you put cereal in.

I always donate treats. I figure the poor devils in need of a food bank deserve something nice as well as basics.

Oh yes I also put in a luxury body wash. I picked up tinned tomatoes and soup and put them back, as I thought the same as weegie. Good idea about the milk.

Our local food bank were in the supermarket the other week asking for stuff, so I got them a small bag of bits - soap, shampoo, canned mince & onions, canned potatoes, canned veg, canned fish, box of tea bags, few packs of biscuits. I chose stuff I would have liked.

We used food bank while I was on mat leave, 2 weeks before Christmas. DH had been out of work for a few years & we had no money at all & the rent had bounced. Some days we didn't eat, or had really odd combinations. It's silly to boil up dried beans or very cheap meat for hours, if you can't put the hob on for long. We still aren't that well off but we can afford food now, without worrying a bill will bounce. I think I've said it before on here, but when you can't even afford carrots or onions, you don't look at biscuits.

My wife and I keep an eye open for BOGOF or 3 for 2 offers on things we're buying, and drop the "free" one into the bins at the checkouts.

Rice, curry powder, jarred olives. I know that curry powder can make any old shite taste better...and buying herbs and spices is not top of your list when you're strapped.

In urgent need of chocolate?

Really?

Yes. Urgent. Because life is shit if you have to live on rice and cabbage.

Yes, really blackberry. If you have eaten instant mash with baked beans every night for two weeks, how nice do think chocolate will taste? How much of a lift will it be?

I always wish I could put fresh things in but it just wouldn't work.

Bit patronising.

Besides, cabbage doesn't go in a food bank box. It would rot.

Surely things people urgently need are things well, that make a meal. Tinned things really.

I've no issue with chocolate being part of that but thinking opening a box and seeing a block of Tesco value chocolate will make someone's day is just patronising and silly.

Also why shouldn't the children of people in need of food banks have the odd treat? NO reason. We have enough to share in the main. Many people have FAR more than they need.

Have you ever used a food bank?

We've been told to donate canned goods, baby and cleaning products for the foodbank for this years Harvest Festival.

I remember a TV news article a few years back with a young mum being interviewed about her experience of using a food bank when her benefits were delayed. She said that in her parcel, as well as the basics there was a bar of naice chocolate and she felt touched that someone had though to buy that and donate it to a foodbank, kind of acknowledging that people in desperate need are deserving of a bit of a treat too. It stuck with me and I so include some luxury items when I donate.