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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:
M0stlyBowlingHedgehog · 02/05/2017 23:12

So glad you're back on your feet, OP, and hugs to any still in need!

I try to remember a couple of times a week - canned stuff and san pro. The point about fuel poverty is an important one (I remember a self-righteous thread on here about "but I want to be able to put dried pulses in the food bank because they're so much more economical" - well, yes, if you have a pressure cooker and can afford the hour's worth of gas it takes to cook them...).

MrsHathaway · 03/05/2017 11:36

I'm one of those compulsive hotel toiletry horders... can any pps that volunteer advise if they are of any use? I have a vague memory about some collection points not being able to take them, but would love them to help if they can

We give ours to the women's refuge (via a friend who works there) - they are used in welcome packs for the first few days when women arrive with plenty of the children's things in their bags but next to nothing for themselves. They are also useful to charities working with the homeless. Our food bank doesn't take them, so it requires a bit more ingenuity to get them to the right people.

DH travels a lot for work so we get stupid amounts of stuff. If he ever gets chatting to housekeeping about where all the bottles go they tend to give him extra. From his trip last week I have about half a carrier bag of body lotion, soap, shampoo and conditioner ready to go.

SuperFlyHigh · 03/05/2017 11:48

Mrshathaway and who asked about toiletries.

Even sample ones ask your local church if they have collections, my mum's neighbour collects these etc for women in prisons for Catholic Church charity.

ASDismynormality · 03/05/2017 12:20

OP I was in Sainsbury's this morning and saw some rice pudding. Bought a tin and put it in the food bank collection whilst thinking of you.

KC225 · 03/05/2017 12:55

This is so nice to read, a couple of years ago, I popped a few festive extra bits, christmas pudding and mince pies and gold coins into the trolly collecting. The lady said, 'oh great, those are much appreciated' I mentioned what she had said when I go back to work and a couple of 'scrooge types' were quite sneery about it saying, I had wasted my money, and nobody goes to a food bank for 'mince pies' etc. I told them I had picked a couple of items off the list and these were extra. The thought of my miniscule little donation making up a surprise Christmas hamper makes me smile.

EmpressOfTheSpartacusOceans · 03/05/2017 13:01

That's a really good point about Free From products, I'll start putting those in too.Thank you!

theflickyones · 03/05/2017 13:11

Just got something in my eye there.
We were in a similar position last year and my neighbour suddenly started appearing with tins and jars, apparently she has a friend who works at a wholesaler etc etc. As soon as we got on our feet it stopped, what a gem of a person she is.

MusicToMyEars800 · 03/05/2017 13:24

What a lovely thread OP, and good to hear you and your DP are back on your feet, I donate as much as possible, there is a local church that accepts donations and I have recently started shopping with Ocado so I will opt in to their voucher scheme.
witsender I always put things like custard, rice pudding, loo roll, cakes and coffee and tea in there, I know how much those little things are missed when you don't have them.

Original poster
PinkyandtheBrainyOne · 03/05/2017 13:42

@ASDismynormality

Thank you!! :)

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 03/05/2017 13:53

On the back of this I have finally trotted off to Sainsbury ' s and put the contents of the Free From selection box I was given in their collection bin. Will also dig out hotel soaps as mentioned above, I reckon I have a couple of dozen in various bags.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/05/2017 13:53

Hi Pinky, what a lovely post and glad to hear you are both working again now.

I do sometimes donate if I have a little spare cash left over (and definitely try and put a box together in the month before Christmas) - is there anything you would particularly recommend to put in (on top of treats and stuff). E.g. toothpaste/shampoo etc? Am def going to do it again this year. Any tips appreciated!

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/05/2017 13:54

Sorry didn't realise this has had so many replies so you may have already answered this, will scroll back through!

BizzyFizzy · 03/05/2017 14:08

There's no need for some posters to be outraged at the existence of foodbanks in a rich country.

We have always, as communities, given free food to those in need, especially from neighbours and the local church.

The outrage is that we don't know our neighbours well enough to disclose when we are in trouble, and people don't automatically go to church anymore.

Most foodbanks are run through parish churches and Christian organisations, so not much has really changed.

Glad they were there when you needed them, OP, and that you got such lovely caring service.

(Shameless brag - DD did her EPQ on foodbanks and got an A*).

Original poster
PinkyandtheBrainyOne · 03/05/2017 14:10

Sanitary towels are really helpful especially! It's something that is sometimes forgotten. :)

OP posts:
WomanScorned · 03/05/2017 14:11

I'd just like to echo the OP.

Last summer, so no school lunches, I went 11 weeks without the Tax Credits to which I was entitled.
(One of many Concentric ups, so a far from unique situation).

It's taken me until now to regain the weight I lost so quickly during that period (my BMI went down to 16 and my GP frightened me by telling me that I was at risk of my internal organs failing).

It was the treats that made all the difference. Obviously, most of those were for DC, but I was craving sugar, probably because of how drained I felthink, physically. I think, also, that it was feeling that thought had gone in to the treats, that someone considered my family worthy of something nicer than the (much appreciated) pasta and tinned tomatoes.

Glad things are looking up for you, OP.

Thanx again to everyone that donates to food banks and also to Women's refuges.
When we first arrived there, we were issued with a welcome pack of tea, milk and instant cappucino sachets, new toothbrushes and toiletries. DC was given new pyjamas and colouring stuff, which tided him over until he got a school place in the new area.

Biscuit Yummy biscuit!

hackmum · 03/05/2017 14:16

Thanks, OP. I donate to the food bank every week and I always like to imagine that there's someone at the other end who's getting some pleasure out of it. I tend to donate stuff that's easy to cook (mostly pasta and jars of sauces) but I also throw a treat in, usually a pack of biscuits, because I assume that if you're feeling really low and hungry then a pack of choccy biscuits might cheer you up a bit.

SauvignonBlanche · 03/05/2017 14:26

I'm glad you're in a better place now OP. Smile

I was once volunteering for the Trussell Trust at a supermarket collection point and a man came up to with a whole trolley full of the sort of items on the lists I was giving out.

He looked quite tearful when I thanked him saying that he'd been on his uppers in the past and wanted to pay something back - bless him!

It could easily happen to any of us. DH was briefly on JSA and got sanctioned for missing an appointment taking me to hospital for brain surgery. Angry

If I hadn't had recovered and been able to return to work eventually it could have been us.

I alternate between coffee, UHT milk and sanitary towels for my donations but will add some rice pudding in this week, thanks to you OP. Flowers

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 03/05/2017 14:32

Thanks Pinky, I will remember this!

Rednailsandnaeknickers · 03/05/2017 15:42

Great post Pinky.

I donate each time I'm in Tesco (usually fortnightly). I follow our local Foodbank on FB and they post a couple of times a week with the items they need most at that time, so I share that post in the hope others may be jogged to remember too. It's very useful to know what's needed that week.

For International Women's Day they did a post asking for sanpro - it def made me think to add a packet each time now too. The idea of the sheer, I don't know, loss of dignity? can't quite think how to phrase it but the awfulness of thinking you are not being able to have san pro or nappies seems just as bad as lack of food to me.

hackmum · 03/05/2017 15:49

BizzyFizzy: "The outrage is that we don't know our neighbours well enough to disclose when we are in trouble, and people don't automatically go to church anymore."

The outrage to me is that people shouldn't need to go hungry when there is enough money to go around for everyone.

lasttimeround · 03/05/2017 15:51

I'm glad to hear your story and yet so sad this country has gotten do awful that good banks are needed.

meditrina · 03/05/2017 15:54

The outrage to me is that people shouldn't need to go hungry when there is enough money to go around for everyone.

This with bells on. Even in the 09s when the country thought it was rich, there were food banks. As noted above, in places like Oslo, there are food banks.

But if you start looking globally, it would divert this thread too far.

I hope people will give to the hungry - wherever in the world they are.

Paddington68 · 03/05/2017 15:55

In summer holidays due to schools not being open the need is greater. Sainsburys and some Waitrose are collection points. Also check with your local church.

meditrina · 03/05/2017 15:56

PS: brilliant idea about hot water bottles - I just remember come autumn, as I'm always looking for foods and drinks that need no more than boiling a kettle; so love the idea of adding a way of keeping a bit warmer.

And the Table of Random Stuff has reminded me of the Aisle of Random Crap thread the other day.

Teddy6767 · 03/05/2017 15:56

I used to volunteer at a food bank and the people receiving the food were always so happy to receive chocolate in it. The multipacks of chocolate bars would go down really well as would mean they could give one to their kids too. A chocolate bar after a shitty day is such a simple pleasure thah a lot of people take for granted
Boxes of cereal always went down well too.