To think that food banks miss the point a bit?

[orangecranberry]

I donated some tins today at Tesco, but was thinking looking in the trolley that it looked an unappetising and generally unappealing array of stuff, largely due to the fact you can't of course donate items that would make a meal such as meat or veg or bread - baked beans without toast can't be too pleasant.

Also, if someone is lacking heat (freezing here just now!) soap, any number of things they might need, food might miss the point. In other words, feeding themselves might be less of a priority than being warm, or putting petrol in the car (many people need cars to work before people chime in with 'sell the car then') - wouldn't it be better if people could go to the CAB, doctors and get a referral not for food but for a smallish sum of cash?

Surely far nicer to spend £1.50 on a loaf of bread and tin of beans than to have just the tin of beans given to you?

Sorry that should have read 40% not 4/5.

Twofalls I have read much more ridiculous things on MN.

I am ashamed that I now live in a country where food banks are necessary.

better

Quote in full:

I think we have gone through a period when too many children and people have been given to understand “I have a problem, it is the Government's job to cope with it!” or “I have a problem, I will go and get a grant to cope with it!” “I am homeless, the Government must house me!” and so they are casting their problems on society and who is society? There is no such thing! There are individual men and women and[fo 29] there are families and no government can do anything except through people and people look to themselves first. It is our duty to look after ourselves and then also to help look after our neighbour and life is a reciprocal business and people have got the entitlements too much in mind without the obligations, because there is no such thing as an entitlement unless someone has first met an obligation and it is, I think, one of the tragedies in which many of the benefits we give, which were meant to reassure people that if they were sick or ill there was a safety net and there was help, that many of the benefits which were meant to help people who were unfortunate—“It is all right. We joined together and we have these insurance schemes to look after it”. That was the objective, but somehow there are some people who have been manipulating the system and so some of those help and benefits that were meant to say to people: “All right, if you cannot get a job, you shall have a basic standard of living!” but when people come and say: “But what is the point of working? I can get as much on the dole!” You say: “Look” It is not from the dole. It is your neighbour who is supplying it and if you can earn your own living then really you have a duty to do it and you will feel very much better!

Also some food banks take direct debits / card donations and they use this to suppliment with fresh food, other bits that haven't been in that weeks donations.

That may have been what Thatcher said in full, carol, but I quoted the bit that is relevant. The Conservatives do not believe in supporting the weaker members of society - they never have. Theirs is a philosophy of individual achievement and success, not of providing equality of opportunity and provision of a decent, basic standard of living to all. They believe in the rule of the market, which is devoid of any sense of fairness or compassion. The fact is that Thatcher and her followers did - and do - not believe in society in a sense of a feeling of responsibility towards all its members or concern for their wellbeing.

I do believe that some people need a range of support . But food banks are called this because they do just that - give food!
I work for an organisation authorised to give out vouchers for our local foodbank. We also provide advice about debt & budgeting, run free cooking on a budget sessions for parents and children, liaise with landlords about rent arrears, organise energy efficiency checks on houses, help chase benefits payments as well as do CV's and offer support with job searches.
We know that this level of preventative support is often not available so people are frequently desperate for food. But In our area we can only give 3 vouchers in any 12 month period so giving additional support is absolutely vital.

Better The conservatives believe in supporting weaker members of society who need support, they are also pragmatic and believe that:

1. the free market provides better oytcomes for all (as proved across the world)
2. that people take the piss and need to be reminded of thier obligations as well as rights.

Food banks are a very inefficient way of helping people in dire straits, but they appeal to people who want control/to know where there money is going or to feel more of a connection with those they are helping.

We moved to Canada a few years ago and our local town has a very active and successful foodbank. A large number of events include 'a donation to the food bank' and when we first moved over I was really surprised that a food bank should be needed in a prosperous and civilised country. I felt proud to come from somewhere that had a fully functional welfare state

the free market provides better oytcomes for all (as proved across the world)

I'm confused then as to why in the US - the ultimate free market - the gap between rich and poor is such a huge gulf.

Perhaps you can explain?

caroldecker, you might believe that. I choose to believe in Aneurin Bevan's thoughts:
"That is why no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party that inflicted those bitter experiences on me. So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin. They condemned millions of first-class people to semi-starvation."

Here's a few Tories sharing their ideas about 'supporting weaker members of society':

www.greenbenchesuk.com/2014/01/10-appalling-comments-by-tory.html?m=1

And here's that well known revolutionary left-wing organisation, the CofE, trying to defend the poor from these bastards:

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/08/tories-avert-rift-church-food-bank-report

Where should this money come from exactly?

1. the free market provides better outcomes for all (as proved across the world)

Please show your working.

2. that people take the piss and need to be reminded of thier obligations as well as rights. The richest 1000 Britons have seen their net worth increase by £70 billion since 2010 while "austerity" has cut £80 billion from welfare budgets in the same time, so, well... please show your working.

InJillian

I think the point is not the speech so much as what it was really trying to justify (and what that outlook is still being used to justify). Of course the world would be a better place if everyone contributed to society etc. But the idea of people abusing the safety net was and is being used as an excuse to withdraw that safety net from people who really do need it.

InJillian that would only work if everyone is born equal. At the moment there is a huge divide between rich and poor. A child born to a single mum on benefits on a sink estate is not going to have the same educational and social opportunities as a child born to a middle class couple in the suburbs. Poor people are vilified for generational benefit claimants but we have to ask why? Why are whole generations of young men and women just giving up?

For people saying that they're ashamed to live in a country that has food banks. A lot of countries need food banks and don't have them. There are people who can't afford to eat everywhere. At least here people are doing something about it. It's better than nothing!

It's easy to say "I worked hardto get where I am and therefore everyone else can too" if you start off with more advantages. And I don't mean advantages like going to private school or having well-connected family members - I mean having enough to eat and parents that believe in you. I grew up on what was known locally as a "rough" council estate and am the only person who I grew up with who went to uni - and I had a mother who was very aspirational for me when it came to education. My friends were allowed not to go to school if they didn't want to, or were needed to care for younger siblings, and there was no expectation on them of achieving more than getting a low paid job locally or for boys an apprenticeship. Yes there are the metaphorical rags to riches stories of people who go from a childhood on the streets to great achievements but there are always exceptional people - they should not be held up as the norm.

The dwp/jc have stopped crisis loans/furniture grants but they were transferred to local councils. Not all chose to take them on but a good number did. Therefore if you need one it is worth checking with your local council.

Food is a basic need for survival. You can survive without just about anything else but not food.

On a more practical level a client of mine got a food parcel recently. Most of it was value tins with no ring pull lids and we had to make an emergency trip to get her a tin opener. It's a good job we looked at the contents straightaway.

Oh good point sooty.

I'm not sure food banks need to have a point, besides feeding those who can't afford to feed themselves.

As for 'since so many people are overweight it would be better to spend the money elsewhere'... in five years of working somewhere with a food back I can't say I've ever noticed obesity being an issue for those who are so hard up they can't afford to eat or feed their kids without our help.

We will always try to tailor what we give out to the family concerned and include a few treats if at all possible. We also keep a small supply of supermarket gift cards that we can give out to be used for fresh food or, for instance, nappies if we don't have the size needed in stock.

I have long thought it would be great if instead of donating a can/packet, you could add 50p or £1 or whatever to your grocery bill with that money going to the Food Bank. They could then buy up product to match need and possibly even secure a discount with the supermarket.

There are people who can't afford to eat everywhere. At least here people are doing something about it. It's better than nothing!

I am ashamed because this is a recent phenomenon. I am angry that our politicians have brought us to this.