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

[PinkyandtheBrainyOne]

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. :)

Our church has a monthly collection which we always donate to.

One month the local foodbank had a representative speak in church to explain how they help and the story that stuck with me was of a single man in his 40s who was a self employed painter and decorator. He fell off a ladder and broke both wrists so was unable to work and had to use the food bank.

It's sad that in this day and age they are needed.

My MIL used to go without meals to make sure my DH and BIL ate when they were children so now my DH can afford to we donate what we can.

That article is lovely. What a fab woman. She proves you can do it.

Willow thats a very simplistic view.

Thats like me going on a binge eating thread and saying "i beat the addiction so why cant you"

I wouldnt dream of it.

'That article is lovely. What a fab woman. She proves you can do it.'

Can do what?

'Willow thats a very simplistic view.

Thats like me going on a binge eating thread and saying "i beat the addiction so why cant you"

I wouldnt dream of it.'

There's always one, Helena. You know, if they just stopped buying fizzy pop, Sky and scratch cards, no one would need a food bank.

In the article she says she thinks it's all about laying the foundations early enough, so that people have the confidence to use cheap ingredients without their going to waste.

Which is to say that only those with the confidence can do that.

Maybe we shouldn't need food banks, but the fact is that they are a godsend to many people. This thread has shown not only what a difference they can make to somebody's life, but also that there are a lot of people out there who want to help, and I for one feel rather heartened by the amount of people who have been inspired to donate because of this thread, for who knows when we might have to rely on the charity of complete strangers

Willow, so do you feel that people who want to feed themselves and their children 'priority food' 'deserve' food banks help more than those who would like some fizzy pop or cereal? That's a very Victorian notion.

I bought some Easter eggs when they got put in the sale and gave them to the food bank. Why the fuck should children not have a treat, especially when they're in a shelter or their family is down on their luck?

Agree.

Agreed Sapphire. We'll be making a trip to the supermarket soon to get some goodies to pass the goodwill forwards. :)

our food bank has asked for donations of stuff like loo rolls and nappies as these are expensive items and often get overlooked.

Giving out food parcels is actually just a very small part of what Trussell Trust food banks do - it's really only a short term non)solution as it's only 3 days worth of food. However, it gets vulnerable people through the door, allowing volunteers who are trained in signposting to help sort the issue causing their food poverty to begin with.

A trial being run in Cambridge currently, the food bank volunteers have a direct line to DWP, so if someone comes in with benefit problems, they can be sorted then and there by someone who knows the system.

TT food banks also offer school uniform banks, fuel vouchers', referrals to baby bank, holiday lunch clubs, affordable cookery classes and loads of other things. Not to mention campaigning to the government to alleviate poverty in the first place.

So you might not think giving a bag of rice will do much, but it will help someone in need access all those services too (as well as feeding them in the short term!)

To piggy back on what Fiona says, volunteers don't need to be highly trained. AT ALL. I have found myself volunteering as an advisor in our local foodbank/drop in (TT).

Many clients come in for help in using computers, or the phone, or with writing letters, cvs. Some lives are in chaos and they may just need someone with a level head to talk through things with them.

I help 3 hrs a week and my training really has just been on the job.

So anyone considering helping out, do ask, they will be very pleased to have whatever time you can offer.

What a lovely thread OP, I'm glad things are better for you now. So many of us are just a step or two away from needing a foodbank - there but for the grace of god etc.

And thanks also to whoever posted the link to the change.org survey, I've signed and shared it.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/01/conservatives-universal-credit-hard-work

About the basics/value vs brand thing, both is good! Our outlet volunteers make sure each parcel contains a mix, so no one gets completely basics.

Similarly, anything with damaged packaging, or slightly out of date are put on the table for people to help themselves to, rather than in their standard parcel. Basically, we don't want people who probably already feel a bit rubbish to go home, look in their bag and think they're only worth rubbish food.

*Not that I'm saying basics are rubbish, I buy them for myself, but it's different when you have a choice iyswim.

I've donated nappies, cat food, sanitary towels, toothpaste etc in the past. I had this idea that they probably had loads of baked beans donated but not perhaps these other essentials.

sapphire strange Yes i sort of do think that & i dont think its a victorian notion. I think it's about education. Not thinking kids need fizzy pop and chocolate. I also think (because i have experience of this) that kids that miss out a bit in childhood not having treats have the drive then to work harder in the future to give themselves a better life.

' I also think (because i have experience of this) that kids that miss out a bit in childhood not having treats have the drive then to work harder in the future to give themselves a better life.'

One would hope that education would also lead to a broader world view and consequently, the understanding that one's personal experience does not necessarily apply to the rest of the world's populace.

It is profoundly ignorant to assume people who use foodbanks do so because they are too stupid to manage their finances and/or that their children deserve their predicament because their parents are buying non-essentials.

People have explained that there are not Aldis on every corner, about fuel poverty, benefit sanctions, tax credit mandatory reconsideration, zero hours contracts and low income.

Yet you insist it's down to blowing money on frivolities.

Willow, the idea of a deserving poor and an undeserving poor is, in fact, a specific Victorian notion (although sadly still rife in the UK now from what I see).

I don't entirely disagree that there is an issue of education and I do think we should all be taught to cook, buy food, budget etc at school (my own home ec classes taught me nothing useful about any of these).

But education is only one part of it and, as people have tried to explain and get you to engage with, other issues weigh very heavily too – access to food shops, irregular income etc.

And it is highly offensive to suggest that someone needing a food bank is perforce stupid enough to think 'kids need fizzy pop and chocolate.' They may well just feel that they would LIKE their kids to have an occasional treat, as do most parents.

So you've 'worked harder' 'to give yourself a better life.' Good for you. Do you think that everyone is in exactly the same position as you were and exactly as able as you to work and earn? Has education and experience not enabled you to see, as expat says above, that
your personal experience is not necessarily applicable to everyone else with no variation or nuance?

I will carry on giving chocolate, biscuits, nice tea etc to food banks, along with sanitary products, easy nutritious tinned food etc. People deserve both. If I'm ever on the bones of my arse and need to accept charity – and it can happen to anyone, no matter what your education or how much hard work you've put in – I would be just as grateful for a discounted Easter egg as for some loo roll or baked beans.

I work at a solicitors who manage a number of trusts. We've given £22.000 to our local food bank this morning. The lady who was collecting in Asda nearly passed out when I gave her the cheque.

weallassume that is a wonderful story. Thanks for sharing.

Willow
A lot of people will never work their way up from where they are for lots of reasons, education, job opportunities, caring duties, lack of capital (both financial and cultural). Are they never to allow their children treats?

www.jrf.org.uk/life-low-income-uk-today

When ds was working in London the only place he could afford to live was a tiny room.
No kitchen or cooking facilities of any kind. No fridge. Nowhere to store or prepare even a sandwich.
Luckily he was able to come home at weekends for fresh meals. But he went hungry during the week because buying sandwiches and prepared food is very expensive.
He was actually a very good cook.