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AIBU?

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Original poster

Healthy food for the food bank

217 replies

Pimpleminds · 07/10/2014 16:06

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?

OP posts:
Moghedien · 07/10/2014 17:56

Sorry Blackberry, sitting in my council house with my lecky meter, wouldn't want to drag you down to my level pet.

I understand what food is too thanks, we're fucking short on it and live on tesco basics. Obviously my meagre offerings won't be appreciated by those as high and mighty as yourself, but maybe someone wont go 'urgh' and chuck it.

Marmiteandjamislush · 07/10/2014 17:56

Oh and we aren't ALL sitting in council flats with electricity meters - just maybe accept different people might use them at different times. And just donate food, just normal food. Obviously food that won't go off but just food, you know?

Why so riled Blackberry? Fuel poverty is massive in my area so that's what I think of, is this the wrong approach? Genuine question btw, not offended, just want to know what would be best focus for future donations.

RJnomore · 07/10/2014 17:57

Can I add something I learnt from our local food bank?

They check with recipients whether they have cooking facilities and if they don't, they give them a "kettle box" which is things that you can eat only using a kettle. So things like instant soups, instant mash, pot noodles. So please don't discount things like that.

originalusernamefail · 07/10/2014 17:58

Sorry haven't read the whole thread. I have a tub of formula left over from DS, the local children's centre won't take it for their food bank as they "must endorse bf". Will anyone accept it? I couldn't bf DS as I needed to take medicine that made it impossible. How do people who can't bf get formula if the need a food bank? Sad

Idontseeanysontarans · 07/10/2014 17:58

Behoove check your nearest library, ours has a drop in box and a list of wants and needs. Not sure about wine, our nearest one doesn't accept Alchohol.

TheWordFactory · 07/10/2014 17:59

behoove you'll probably find a collection in your local supermarket.

They usually have a trolly by the tills. You just stick in what you can.

I think they should have some sort of facility to donate when doing internet shopping though. I do that a lot and it would be great to just be able to press a button to donate an extra jar of coffee or whatever. Especially on the specials!

formerbabe · 07/10/2014 18:00

How do people who can't bf get formula if the need a food bank?

No idea.... Can people get it on prescription?

Moghedien · 07/10/2014 18:01

Could you try a different foodbank original? Ours takes nappies, formula, wipes, everything.

chocolatespiders · 07/10/2014 18:02

I always give rice pudding, biscuits and cereal bars. Long life milk always needed.
Ours does not like getting weetabix as uses to much milk.

Eggs are a good thing to give but often not thought about

ILovePud · 07/10/2014 18:04

That's a shame that they wouldn't take your spare formula. Families on certain benefits can get free formula milk anyway though, though I accept that the reasons people use food banks are varied and they may not always be on these benefits.

UpduffedFatty · 07/10/2014 18:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blackberrypicking · 07/10/2014 18:05

Mog, we didn't say 'ugh' and chuck it but a fair few do.

I'm saying that some people who need food banks have access to electricity so don't discount some items because you think everybody using a food bank won't have fuel.

Why do you think that was an attack on you? Confused

SauvignonBlanche · 07/10/2014 18:06

I noticed Aldi had a deal on 12 cans on Heinz Tomato soup, it was too many for us, DS only likes it if he's ill. I'll take your advice blackberrypicking and get it for the food bank, I hope it gives someone else as much comfort as it gave you. Smile

originalusernamefail · 07/10/2014 18:06

Thanks everyone, I will research some other food banks and see if anyone will take it.

listsandbudgets · 07/10/2014 18:08

Blackberry would HATE me. Last week I put in 3 packs of flavoured cous cous, 4 cans of baked beans, 3 cans of potatoes, 9 rolls of toilet paper and.......

2 multipacks of mini haribo

Off to sit on the foodbank naughty step. I always try to put in something for children though

blackberrypicking · 07/10/2014 18:08

Upduffed, I'm not saying 'don't put in value chocolate'

But even those who enjoyed it have to admit that it isn't a meal, it isn't filling , it isn't much of anything.

I was pointing out that food banks are not in urgent need of chocolate. When people objected their arguments were along the lines of 'they DO need chocolate as everyone needing to use a food bank needs chocolate to lift their spirits' which I am sorry but I find very patronising !

blackberrypicking · 07/10/2014 18:10

Thanks sauv I hope so too. I am sure it will.

Lists why on earth would I hate you? It isn't what I'd personally donate and I wouldn't have been over the moon to have opened my food bank box and found sweets but you know, a packet of haribo for lunch is better than nothing.

Laquitar · 07/10/2014 18:11

I think the difference between choc or biscuits and rice pudding is that you can eat the choc and biscuits immediately. In the street. No tin to open.
If you waljed to go there with toddlers/children it would be handy to be able to have smth straight?

Moghedien · 07/10/2014 18:13

blackberrypicking Tue 07-Oct-14 18:08:03
Upduffed, I'm not saying 'don't put in value chocolate'

blackberrypicking Tue 07-Oct-14 17:18:26
Donate value chocolate if you want to make people sick and give them the runs and pat your back about what an ace person you are

fatlazymummy · 07/10/2014 18:14

blackberry I don't think people are forced to take the value chocolate if they don't want it. Obviously some people like it though, or the supermarkets wouldn't carry on stockstocking it if no one ever bought it.

Marmiteandjamislush · 07/10/2014 18:17

I don't put chocolate and sweets in for adults Blackberry, but for children. I think most people do.The person donating can't control how it is distributed, you sound really vile and vitriolic about people who only want to help others and don't help the rates of donation by making people feel crappy about it. Money has been very tight for us in the past, and when friends brought treats for our kids they were so happy and excited, I and many others just want to pay that kind of thoughtfulness forward to others.

blackberrypicking · 07/10/2014 18:18

I think biscuits are really good to be honest as you tend to get a few in a pack.

It's really hard explaining myself without sounding like a knob. Although I am a knob! But the thing is, if you're in a shit situation (and honestly I am being deadly serious here - a LOT of people most reliant on food banks will be adults without children cause usually - not always before you all jump on me - usually children are prioritised and so a household with children won't go hungry.) I know there are exceptions.

But you need to be pragmatic and think long term. So we had porridge oats - BRILLIANT, lasted ages. Tins of stuff, a couple of stews, rice pudding (!) soup. Meals, you know?

Okay the chocolate is nice unless it's Tesco value but it won't actually make a difference. I'm not saying don't donate it! But I also think it's daft for a food bank to claim they urgently need it.

Hot chocolate I can see the logic of as hot drinks fill you up and it is nice to have something sweet and a bit comforting!

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 07/10/2014 18:19

We always put a carton of UHT milk in, and a pack of things like animal biscuits or rainbow cookies :)

blackberrypicking · 07/10/2014 18:20

Mog, you're taking what I've said out of context. Donate or don't donate, makes little difference, but don't kid yourself the value choc is changing someone's life for the better. It's not, it isn't even filling them up! Your picture makes me think of teenagers posting shit on Facebook.

There's a difference between being short of money, and having a treat, and having nothing. When you need meals. I'm not vile, I've just actually been there.

glenthebattleostrich · 07/10/2014 18:20

I do a mix of basics, own brand and 'named' depends what's on offer and what's needed. I'm lucky that I can spend an extra £5 per week. If there's a decent offer when I go to Costco I'll grab that too. But always stuff I'd feed my family. So basics tomatoes, biscuits, cereal bars and pasta, super marked rice pudding and veg and premium soup and beans. And always OK coffee and tea bags. If you've not got much milk, cheap tea and coffee makes it worse.

I also buy any sweets or chocolate on offer and stick that in. Not because I think a bar of chocolate is going to change lives but because everyone, especially kids deserves a treat. Same reason I stick coco pops bars or Jaffa cakes sometimes. At Christmas I always put festive chocks, mince pies and a few little treats.

This year I'm also going to stick in a couple of little toys too.

If this makes me patronising according to some then so be it. I just know how much we used to appreciate little kindnesses when I grew up with nowt.

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