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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

...to thank everyone who donates to Food Banks?

304 replies

PinkyandtheBrainyOne · 02/05/2017 20:25

I mean obviously, I'm not, but I just wanted to say a big thank you to anyone who has donated in the past.

My partner and I were out of work at the end of last year and were waiting for our benefits to kick in. We visited and were provided with bags of lovely food - all manner of treats which put a big smile on our faces.

But, that's only half of my story. The week before Christmas, things were very tight. We hadn't bought each other presents and were planning on just having a microwavable roast dinner to celebrate Christmas. We had to keep things cheap. And then we got a phone call...

Apparently we had entered a prize draw and won a food hamper, and they were wondering if they could drop it round that evening. We were very grateful; but we hadn't entered any draw. It was obvious that it was a treat from the food bank, described to spare our feelings and it meant the world to us.

Inside were selection boxes and Roses and Celebrations, all kinds of chocolate. Yule Logs and Rice Pudding. Hot Chocolate, as well as the usual staples you'll find in a food bank parcel. It's no exaggeration to say that we both had a little weep at how fortunate we were.

Eventually we both found work and things seem to be, if not comfortable, manageable. I'm pretty late posting this, but was reading an article about Food Banks and remembered and wanted to say, thank you. :)

OP posts:

Pradaqueen · 10/05/2017 07:12

Thank you to the PP who pointed out that Ocado provide matched donations. Donated really easily yesterday. Although I understand why they might not want to make a big deal of it from a business model PoV i do think it should be easier to find on their websites as it can only serve to enhance their business and reputation. Since watching the film 'I Daniel Blake' I donate sanitary products to FB's whenever I can.

Intransige · 10/05/2017 08:49

Thanks to this thread I made a food bank donation yesterday with some stuff (not baked beans ) that's easy without a stove, plus some small toiletries like dry shampoo. Brilliant suggestions upthread and really helpful to make sure the donation is as useful as possible (in all senses, practical as well as good for the soul in tough times!).

Does anyone know if menstrual cups like mooncup would be well received? Sanpro is obviously one use only, but the cups can be reused. I know they're not universally loved, so would it be a bit weird to put some in the food bank donation box?

Middleoftheroad · 10/05/2017 09:20

What a great thread. I watched the I Daniel Blake film.only last week and was really moved by the foodbank scene.

I always forget as box after checkouts. hope supermakets will start putting up reminders. I must make more effort to donate

Welshmaenad · 10/05/2017 10:28

I have a day off today so I contacted my local food bank to be told they are desperately short of tinned tomatoes, pasta and sauces, rice pud, toiletries and tinned fruit.

Quick trip to Lidl and I'm on my way to drop it off

...to thank everyone who donates to Food Banks?

MrsFionaCharming · 10/05/2017 14:51

I can always tell when there's been a FB thread on Mumsnet. Our donations this week were up by 50% on last week!

loobyloo1234 · 10/05/2017 15:00

So glad things have got better for you OP

We did a reverse advent calendar at work for the local foodbank. I still put something in each time I go to the shops. So nice to hear from someone we may have helped

HelenaDove · 10/05/2017 15:33

There was a big online debate about mooncups after The Pool ran an article on period poverty.

The consensus was that a lot of teenage girls may be embarrassed about having to rinse them out while at school.

If it were me i would stick with the sanitary towels I could never use tampons and a mooncup wouldnt work for me either.

Imagine how frustrating it would be to receive something that is supposed to help you but that you cant use. You wouldnt be able to say anything for fear of being seen as ungrateful. So would end up feeling even smaller than you already do.

Welsh thats amazing.

loobyloo1234 · 10/05/2017 16:46

I have always wanted to donate to a food bank, but I don't know what I should donate or even where my nearest one is

kitty

If you google foodbanks in your area, it'll list all of the drop off points with any luck. They sometimes have hubs other than supermarkets, i.e. distribution centres and so on. Hope that helps

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 10/05/2017 17:53

I wouldn't want a mooncup either, I use tampons at the gym but that's it. I know towels aren't reusable but at least they're easy.

LakieLady · 10/05/2017 19:06

I often make foodbank referrals for clients I work with, usually because they're skint because of benefit cock-ups. We also donate to food banks. We have a big box in each of the staff kitchens at all our offices, staff put stuff in and we then we take it to local food banks when we're passing.

Our manager gets an email from some of the food banks local to our team when they need something specific. She forwards it to everyone in the building, and within a day or two there's loads of pot noodles/cereal whatever. We also get given chocolates, biscuits etc by clients in the run up to Christmas and that all goes to the food banks.

A few people at work have allotments, and when they have a lot of a particular vegetable we see if the food banks or a local community cafe would like them. We kept the community cafe in apple crumble/pie for a fortnight last year!

Every year, we organise an event called "Foodstock". We get a local social club for free for the night, local bands play for free, we get raffle prizes from local companies and charge £5 for tickets. Last year, it raised over £3k.

It makes such a massive difference to people in need. Hopefully, this thread will have inspired a few more people to donate.

AdoraBell · 10/05/2017 22:51

Were did you watch I Daniel Blake Middleoftheroad?

AdoraBell · 10/05/2017 23:14

Peanut butter! I didn't think of that.

Helena that piece about the value foods for the teenager I try not to pick value foods when I'm in store. They usually have enough things on offer that to find nice things for the collection box isn't difficult.

Birdsbeesandtrees · 10/05/2017 23:21

I can't say as I do much but I do donate hotel toiletries from my many work trips - ive got a bagful not I should be able to drop in soon actually.

RoseAndRose · 11/05/2017 19:26

Question for those who volunteer in foodbanks, if you don'tt mind.

Razors. You get more razors for your spend if you get the bigger packs. Do you give the whole pack unopened to one person (in which looking for smaller packs on offer might be more useful). Or are they split open and people take one or two if they use them?

notaflyingmonkey · 11/05/2017 20:20

I just want to say thank you to all those of you who support foodbanks with donations. You are good people

FV45 · 13/05/2017 07:54

Our local one is getting low on boxes.
If you are able to, please get some extra bits and bobs today folks.

Greenifer · 26/05/2017 23:37

Just wanted to say that off the back of this thread, I gave some of the usual bits to the food bank like crackers, beans, tinned soup etc. But I also got six jars of really posh jam, six jars of posh nut butter (cashew and something), six pots of Nutella and six boxes of really nice biscuits. I don't know why six, it just seemed like a good number. I really hope someone gets their parcel and is happy to have some treats in there. Will do the same next month.

Talkingfrog · 27/05/2017 01:00

What a lovely post. My mother in law volunteers our local food bank along with some others from the church. I can therefore ask her what they need when I am shopping. They are struggling though so have had to slightly reduce what they give out, especially if the family has a number of adults. When I asked before Christmas I was asked for selection boxes and biscuits which I thought was nice.

CantChoose · 27/05/2017 10:02

Similar to rose, is it best to get smaller packs but more of them or better value bulk packs? I'd assume for something like rice that several small packs are best but easily splittable stuff like loo roll would be ok in big packs?

Crowdblundering · 27/05/2017 10:53

I always buy a pack of Tampons and put them in the food bank basket.

JustAnotherPoster00 · 27/05/2017 11:27

Willowtree

“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well- warmed, and well-fed.” - Herman Melville

Iruka · 27/05/2017 12:32

Our foodbank is always asking for tin openers. Wilko sell them for about 50p, I stock up whenever I remember. I don't really go in there for anything else so they probably think I am crazy [:)]

CantChoose · 28/05/2017 11:03

Did a big food bank shop yesterday. Planned for a while as a deal with god/higher power/whoever was listening to celebrate passing a big exam. This thread really helped with what to choose - I looked at their online page and bought a few of all the things listed as needed as well as some higher end kettle-only meals, peanut butter and of course some rice putting. I had to leave my bags at the side because the normal area was completely full, I wonder if others have been reading this thread!

notaflyingmonkey · 29/05/2017 21:57

I, daniel blake can be viewed for 99p on Amazon at the moment by the way.

April229 · 02/06/2017 19:51

I love this thread. OP I've been adding rice pudding following one of your previous posts :)

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