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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
AdoraBell · 12/10/2015 22:59

I would include biscuits, sweets, chocolate. Maybe a múltiple pack of chocolate bars/biscuts like Penguins/Club etc, or crisps.

WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 23:00

X posted with Junosmum regarding pet food!

WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 23:04

MammaTJ OMG please don't feel ashamed.

There's no shame in that whatsoever.

In fact you should be bloody proud of yourself for taking the initiative to provide for your family, via the food bank or any other honest means for that matter.

I don't know you but 'know' you from MN. You've always seemed a decent sort and I'm quite sure you'll pay it forward once you find yourself in a better position Thanks

wigglesrock · 12/10/2015 23:05

I always try and put in some some of those individual jelly pots or the 4 pack of ready made custard tubs or jam tarts - stuff my kids like.

Unsurechicken · 12/10/2015 23:10

I've had to use a food bank to and may use one again this week.

The items I really remember are tinned fruit and a box of gingerbread men!

Also with two babies I swapped my toiletries for nappies as for me is rather my kids had nappies and I didn't have shampoo

NeedAScarfForMyGiraffe · 12/10/2015 23:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MagickPants · 12/10/2015 23:12

Of course you should put in treats if you want to. My food bank updates the list every now and then, but often tinned puddings appear on there. I expect they are very filling as well as sweet which is why they suggest them.

But if you put in anything with a long shelf life, it's hard to imagine no one wanting it. Nice coffee or good tea, chocolate, biscuits - surely they'll just add it onto someone's parcel along with the "real" food? - and it will go down a treat.

Every now and then some orthorexic MC overachieving mn-er complains that the foods that the food bank requests aren't "healthy", but she usually gets crushed by right thinking people pointing out that a. if the people who run the place tell you what is needed, believe them, and don't over rule them by deciding that quinoa is just the thing; and b. it isn't exactly healthy to live on 300 calories a day which is what you would get from a bowl of broccoli and quinoa

DragonsToSlayAndWineToDrink · 12/10/2015 23:13

I worked at Foodbank last Christmas, and we had a crate of Christmas puddings and a crate of selection boxes donated- it made people so happy to have those little treats included Smile

sleeponeday · 12/10/2015 23:14

MammaTJ, you're helping others by being brave enough to swallow your pride and post, to steer on what is good to get.

Thanks for the tip on pet food from people. I had never even thought of that.

ComtesseDeSpair · 12/10/2015 23:16

I include those sachets of hot chocolate powder as they can be distributed more easily than a tub. Also lunchbox treat stuff as not all children whose parents need the foodbank will be receiving FSM - fruit winders, juice cartons, individually wrapped cakes etc

Garrick · 12/10/2015 23:18

I always put biscuits & chocolate in :) I am poor and acutely aware of how much more cheering chocolate biscuits are than rice & tinned carrots. At Christmas I give lots of liqueur chocolates so the adults have something too.

Remember calories are the basic necessity for life; this is why Trussell boxes usually contain a huge bag of sugar. There is no 'bad' food if you haven't got enough food - though of course everyone in Britain should have access to a varied & balanced, adequate diet.

Garrick · 12/10/2015 23:19

Those are good ideas, Comtessa. Duly copied!

WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 23:27

Oh, cuppa soups and pot noodles were something else my cousin mentioned.

They don't put them on the list (perhaps because they're not considered nutritious enough?), but she said some people literally only have a kettle to use.

I think you can get pot rice things as well.

VimFuego101 · 12/10/2015 23:30

Not quite time yet, but I bet advent calendars would be a lovely treat for kids.

WorraLiberty · 12/10/2015 23:32

Another thing I saw in the 99p store today VimFuego101!

And they were Minion ones too (loves a Minion) Blush

Excitedforxmas · 12/10/2015 23:34

Jason manford did an appeal for advent calendars last year , he donated hundreds

ProfYaffle · 12/10/2015 23:36

It's always worth checking the foodbank's website for things they need. Ours does ask for treats but last year they had a huge donation of advent calendars from a local company. There were more than they could possibly need and they were literally pressing them on visitors just trying to get rid of them!

ProfYaffle · 12/10/2015 23:37

X post, yes, this was a result of the Jason Manford appeal.

MammaTJ · 12/10/2015 23:38

I don't know you but 'know' you from MN. You've always seemed a decent sort and I'm quite sure you'll pay it forward once you find yourself in a better position

Damn right Worra. I have already 'regifted' a few bits that we would struggle to get through quickly to other struggling families, not quite skint enough to have asked for food bank help. Two tubs of drinking choc in two weeks are nice, but we will not get through in two months. That is just us though, others may love it. I handed one to a working single parent who has DC who will drink it.

Once I get a job I will be buying a bit extra each week for the foodbank again!

This is so hard!! I cannot even get JSA! I am unemployed for the first time ever in my 48 years and do not qualify!

reni2 · 12/10/2015 23:39

I add some lovely shampoo, children's bubble bath and shower gel, I've heard somebody talking about how they had to use washing up liquid for their hair and their kid's bath.

Emochild · 12/10/2015 23:43

Our local food bank make up what they call kettle packs -any food that can be made with just a kettle

Instant mash
Instant custard
Pot noodles
Cuppa soup
Hot dogs etc

They also ask for gravy granules -not much nutritionally but makes a portion of mash much more appetising!

They also prefer high calorie food so not the low calorie version of anything

Sallyhasleftthebuilding · 12/10/2015 23:44

The own brand biscuits are exactly the same, just different wrapper.
Ohh everyone should get treats, it should be law! I hope there are a few more supplies given near christmas. DD friend is only allowed water, squash would be her treat.

GlaceCherries · 12/10/2015 23:45

I volunteer at a foodbank and in all honesty, all and any (in date!) food is greatly appreciated Flowers Nothing goes to waste; but from what I've seen, toiletries, nappies and formula in particular (prob because it's so expensive) are in shorter supply and are more carefully rationed.

We're keeping back any obviously Christmassy stuff at the moment, to give out closer to Christmas itself.

IsItMeOr · 12/10/2015 23:56

I remember reading another thread on here, when a mum who had used a foodbank said how thankful she had been for the bar of chocolate which she had been able to use to bribe her DC to eat the nutritious but not-what-they-were-used-to other food.

It meant that I donated the spare bottles of pop we had without a second thought. It's all calories, and fine for a short while.

I also took in our uneaten Christmas pud in the middle of summer, and the lovely foodbank lady assured me it would make someone's day. I don't think there's any bad food, so long as it's in date.

CatMilkMan · 12/10/2015 23:57

It won't be seen as frivolous and frowned upon.
I had a similar worry when I donated some harrods brands items, I worried that the cost of them individually could buy far more items in general but the lovely people told me everything counts and maybe the brand name would bring a smile to someone's face.