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Original poster

Foodbank Treats

160 replies

Piratepete1 · 12/10/2015 22:40

Inspired by another thread...

I try to take a Foodbank package to our local church as often as I can. I tend to stick to the usual things that are filling, nutritious, can be eaten without access to power etc.

But after reading a thread about a kind mumsnetters gesture at a checkout I would like to add something as a treat for the children (and the rest of the family) but I'm worried it might be seen as frivolous and frowned upon?? Has anyone got any suggestions?

OP posts:
LineyReborn · 12/10/2015 22:43

Biscuits are requested by food banks.

VashtaNerada · 12/10/2015 22:43

I always put treats in my Foodbank donations! This time of year you could get Halloween-themed chocolate or Haribo. Just anything that kids (or grown-ups for that matter!) might like. I don't think it's frivolous, it must be bloody miserable to rely on a Foodbank so anything that cheers you up is really important.

WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 22:44

Why would your local church frown upon 'frivolous' food? Confused

Are poor people not allowed to eat cake?

Seeyounearertime · 12/10/2015 22:45

Biscuits :)
Tescos do Everyday Value biscuits that cost 30-50p and are lovely. We buy them instead of the expensive brands and our LO knows no different, to her, its a biscuit. Lol

Original poster
Piratepete1 · 12/10/2015 22:46

I agree with the cheering up Vashta, I just don't want a family to think that a better meal would have been of more use than some chocolate for example.

Good idea about Halloween. Thanks

OP posts:
WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant · 12/10/2015 22:46

Biscuits?
Chocolate bars?
I think most things that will keep are acceptable.

Also, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, pet food...
Maybe a tub of roses now the shops are selling Xmas?

Leeds2 · 12/10/2015 22:46

In the drop off boxes at Tesco, there are always lots of treat stuff. Mainly biscuits, and multi packs of chocolate bars, but also crisps. I think crisps is a daft donation as I imagine them being crushed! But I do always put in some treat stuff, usually chocolate or sweets.

lostinabook · 12/10/2015 22:46

Our local ones welcomes advent calendars and selection boxes for kids and chocs and biscuits for everyone!

MissFitt68 · 12/10/2015 22:47

Crackers
Olives
Tinned fruit
Nice jam

Doesn't need to be junk' to be a treat.

Original poster
Piratepete1 · 12/10/2015 22:48

Of course they are Worra but I just don't want to include something that families don't really find useful. We have a list from the church and there are no 'treats' as such on there so I just wondered the reason why.

OP posts:
glenthebattleostrich · 12/10/2015 22:48

I always put treats in. A multipack of whatever sweets are on offer and some biscuits.

At Christmas I get some selection boxes too, Easter loads of kinder eggs. I'd hate to not be able to give DD a little treat now and then. And let's be honest, a cup of tea and a biscuit can just make you feel a little bit better for a bit.

Seeyounearertime · 12/10/2015 22:48

I'm terrified of ever needing a Foodbank, is that weird?
Were OK financially, but only due to HB and TC, if they get removed then we may end up in bother.
Hate it, often lie awake at night worrying if they have cake in Foodbank packages? I love cake ... Grin

nickelbabe · 12/10/2015 22:49

My friend is foodbank coordinator, and yes, they like to get "treats" for people too.
Fresh fruit is a nice idea (my idea was that maybe an allotment surplus and if it didn't all go, it could be sold at church thwt week and the money used to buy other useful things for the foodbank.)
But yes, treats arw good.

Original poster
Piratepete1 · 12/10/2015 22:49

I did see the huge chocolate tins today and so wondered about those as I used to love having one of those out on the table as a kid. Good idea about selection boxes etc.

OP posts:
Unreasonablebetty · 12/10/2015 22:49

When we were kids, one year the Salvation Army provided us with food, there were biccies, cakes and if I remember rightly there were also crispies. I think it might be nice to have little extras in, especially for those who are in a lasting situation where they will need to rely on food banks often.

nickelbabe · 12/10/2015 22:50

Magazines with toys on them maybe too?

WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 22:51

Oh I see OP.

Maybe the treats aren't on there because as you say, 'proper' food will be viewed as more important.

However, if you can provide both then I would.

Junosmum · 12/10/2015 22:51

I'm a social worker and often support clients to access food banks. All food is greatly received (though they are literally swimming in beans!). No food is seen as 'frivolous', just think what you would like as a treat- long life things are best, battenburg, cherry bakewells etc, rather than short life span cakes. Lunch box things are really useful - a lot of people can't/don't have access to free school meals (even thought they should, children often don't receive them for various reasons or parents find them very hard to claim) or adults working on low income who don't have money to buy lunch. Also drinks - fruit juice, squash, tea. When someone is so desperate simple things can be treats!

Food banks will often also take other things - spatula's, tea towels, washing up liquid. That sort of thing.

Pet food is also a really needed and often forgotten item - you can't just hand you pet over to a shelter these days if you can no longer afford to look after it as they are over run by abused or abandoned animals. I know people who are feeding their pets plain pasta as it fills them up and is cheap, they can't afford anything else and the food bank food is used for their kids.

Welshmaenad · 12/10/2015 22:53

Little treats can mean a lot when you're in difficult circumstances.

I supported a service user who needed to rely on a food bank for a short while. I noticed she had no toiletries in the house and she's mentioned liking hot chocolate so I had a quiet word with the food bank lady and they put toiletries including bath foam and a tub of instant hot choc in her pack.

The prospect of a hot hubby bath and hot chocolate had her in tears - it was a luxury to her. One denied for some time. It meant the world.

Original poster
Piratepete1 · 12/10/2015 22:54

Thank you everyone. I am going to take my DD shopping tomorrow and have her pick out some things she would like as a treat to go in this month's box. Plus some biccies, tins of choccies and pet food to go with our usual stuff.

OP posts:
MammaTJ · 12/10/2015 22:54

I have (to my utter shame) had to rely on food bank for a few weeks.

We are truly grateful to all who donate, but really utterly love the people who provide my DC with biscuits and other treats that they would not get otherwise right now.

The box today contained proper posh tea bags too. Oh and beetroot relish, which I have never tried before. Oh and Aero hot chocolate! It was a proper haul today. Loads of tinned veggies as well, which help no end. Tinned pie, tinned tuna, tinned hot dog sausages all make a meal each! Tinned ham, which will help when the ham we have bought for lunch box sarnies runs out!

Original poster
Piratepete1 · 12/10/2015 22:58

Oh MammaTJ, please don't be ashamed. Most of us are all just a few paychecks away from needing a Foodbank. I'm so glad that your DC got some treats x

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 22:58

I started a new job recently and there's a 99p store just down the road.

It's amazing the things you can buy there, including boxes of sweets/biscuits etc. Some of them are multi-packs so I'm sure the church could split them up, so more than one family can benefit.

My cousin works at a food bank and she's said in the past that there are certain items they would never ask for, but they're silently really happy to get.

I can't remember all of them but sweets/biscuits and dog and cat food were definitely mentioned.

I was surprised about the pet food, but as she said, lots of families who fall on hard times have pets and they're not going to give them up immediately.

glenthebattleostrich · 12/10/2015 22:59

Mamma, don't be ashamed. At risk of sounding facetious, shit happens and sometimes you need a bit of help.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 12/10/2015 22:59

I remember another thread on here, discussing food banks, where a MNer who had used food banks said how sad it had made her not to be able to give her children a little treat, and that, when she got a packet of mini rolls or something similar, how happy it made her to be able to give them a treat after school.

The last time we did a donation to the food bank, I included sanitary towels, chocolate Swiss rolls and biscuits as well as food.

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