AIBU?
to think the food bank challenge is in really bad taste, friends trying to out do each other to spend the least
sallyismyname · 26/06/2015 18:21
Sorry I haven't been on here in a while, couldn't remember my email back last year so got a new name.
Thought this maybe the place to let off some steam about this.
A few friends in one group have been doing some food bank challenge. Apparently to raise awareness but they are treating it like s game for giggles and have been boasting the last few days how much each of their portions cost. They are trying to top each other.
I find it really distasteful, they are both well off have fancy kitchens, dont work and drive everywhere. When people in a food bank often only have a kettle! Has really annoyed me
AwkwardSquad · 26/06/2015 18:31
It does seem to be missing the point. You could challenge them to go to the next level - ie you've mastered the 'spend less' level. Now for the 'your utilities have been cut off' level... Then the 'only food that you've shopped for and brought home by public transport' level. Then the 'you've no money for public transport, so only what you can buy and carry home on foot' level. Fun and educational!
toomuchtooold · 26/06/2015 18:50
This kind of reminds me of whenever there's something in the Guardian about food poverty, there's always like 20 people who pile on to talk about how when they were a student they survived and thrived on £6 a week for food by making frugal healthy slow cooked vegetable based food. It's like "look at me! I'm so great I even win at poverty!" Never mind they're making use of things that properly poor people don't have necessarily as Awkwardsquad said - even just the self-congratulatory tone is annoying.
Shallishanti · 26/06/2015 20:45
are they going without fresh food entirely?
are they having to cook with food that SOMEBODY ELSE chose?
I'm afraid I think it's in very poor taste and the people I have known who have had to use food banks woud think they were mad, at best.
Just give some food, or some time, or write to your bloody MP asking why people need food banks.
Alwayswiththechords · 26/06/2015 21:43
YANBU. It doesn't seem that their awareness about poverty/food poverty/food banks has been raised at all. I used to get really annoyed with people doing the £1 challenge as most of them were boasting about how easy it was to eat well for so cheap. But they were using stuff they already had in their cupboards and also calculating the £1 per portion (ie. 2p for a spoon of mayo, 5p for slice of bread etc) but you can't buy groceries per portion. I have been through very lean times, feeding my family for sometimes £6/week, sometimes 30p a day. It's desperate and sould-destroying and embarrassing. And my god the amount of people who think slow cookers will erase food poverty and ultimately, I guess, famine from this world.
PtolemysNeedle · 26/06/2015 22:05
If they are increasing their own understanding of the situations that people can find themlsves in and doing a little bit to raise awareness, I can't see the problem. It's unlikely that they're intentionally doing something that woudo wind you up, they are probably full of good intentions, even if some do think it's a little misguided.
It's certainly no worse than what is done to raise money for children in need or comic relief where you get millionaire celebrities going out to places suffering extreme poverty for a couple of days or ice bucket challenge type things.
RedandYellow24 · 26/06/2015 23:52
I would find it annoying if they were donating to food bank but boasting how easy was too. Like you say I've seen similar posts where recipe calls for 1/3 banana or handful of cauliflower where in reality you have to buy a whole one. Especially with salad and veg if you buy it that's it you are eating it all for the next 5 days straight. Ditto unless you have packs of spices and herbs a stock cube will cost you 1.99 for 10 bang goes that weeks budget or sash of cream 5p arghhhh
Sazzle41 · 27/06/2015 01:27
I dont understand. Why is competing on giving really cheap stuff funny and a 'game'? Or have i missed something/misunderstood? Wouldnt it be nicer and more thoughtful to give nice stuff. A programme i saw said they get too many cheap tins of same old stuff and requested (Beans and soup) and asked for more basics like pasta, rice and tea or coffee.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.