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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:
QueenofallIsee · 05/05/2017 14:54

DD did some voluntary work at a Food Bank, I am not sure she knew what it was before hand to be honest. She came home after the 1st shift in tears - she was staggered at 2 children who had got excited about 2 basic pizzas. The more experienced staff explained to her that donations tended toward the 'worthy' and that no one likes pasta and tinned food 24/7 so pizza was a real treat for the littlies whose family were long term users of the service.

GreenFingersWouldBeHandy · 05/05/2017 16:20

Hi Queen to be honest I would love to donate pizza but it's always frozen/refrigerated here - does anyone have any ideas how I can donate stuff like that so that it won't go off?

PS: DD sounds like a kind little soul. :-)

dontcallmelen · 05/05/2017 17:00

Some lovely things being said on this thread, i have several packs of nappies ranging in sizes, but they have been opened & a few used from each pack, does anyone know if the opened packs would be ok to donate?

KeiraKnightleyActsWithHerTeeth · 05/05/2017 17:15

I used to volunteer at a food bank, we often had people crying because their bags included things like jelly, stuffing mix and biscuits because they didn't think they deserved them. It broke my heart.

If someone is so hard up they are humbled enough to ask for help from a food bank then the last thing they should be begrudged is a tiny treat.

I think a huge pack of ginger nut biscuits in own brand ranges are 30p and fill you up nicely in between mealswith a cup of tea.

Things we always needed
Washing up liquid (although some food banks have bulk donations of this and don't need more, so do check)
Dog and cat food
Rice pudding
Custard
Tinned meat
Noodles/rice mealswhich can be cooked with only a kettle
UHT milk (and dairy free alternatives)

Things that always go down really well:
Tea
Chocolate
Tinned fruit salad
Super noodles (cheap alternative are usually 5 for £1)
Tuna
Crackers
Tinned hot dogs
Jelly
Soup (there is one called "Big Tasty" which I think is by Heinz, it is a HUGE tin for about £1 and whenever we have those we hear that they are very filling, contain meat and serve two adults happily)

KeiraKnightleyActsWithHerTeeth · 05/05/2017 17:15

dont my food bank would happily accept those if directly dropped off.

witsender · 05/05/2017 17:29

This is exactly it. A good foodbank treats all clients as if they deserve to be looked after and have a treat. Not just be sustained with basic nutrition. So a cup of coffee in the morning (I recently had someone argue we shouldn't ask for coffee as it wasn't an essential), a biscuit,a teaspoon of sugar in your tea, a pudding, maybe a glass of juice, something nice for the kids' lunch boxes, maybe a snack for after school. we all treat ourselves some way or another, why the bloody hell shouldn't they?

witsender · 05/05/2017 17:29

As you can tell, it really makes me mad. Grin

dontcallmelen · 05/05/2017 17:30

Keira thanks will try that, such a waste otherwise.

rightsofwomen · 05/05/2017 17:45

We ran out of Single person boxes today, the warehouse had to send more down Sad

DesdemonasHandkerchief · 05/05/2017 20:16

Great post OP, it's pricked my conscience to donate, the Trussell Trust accepts text donations which is easy, and I'll be far more aware of donating in store in future.

...to thank everyone who donates to Food Banks?
rightsaidfrederickII · 05/05/2017 21:21

OP, because of this thread I've just donated a tenner (+ gift aid) to my local food bank. I'm so glad to hear that you're back on your feet now x

CherryMintVanilla · 05/05/2017 22:56

Do they still only allow three referrals per household, or has that been relaxed since things have got decidedly worse over the last few years?

LinaBo · 05/05/2017 23:43

My local Sainsbury's has a collection point and they normally have a list of what they need. I take a photo on my phone and use it as a shopping list whenever I can afford to help. Re value vs branded, I normally go for own brand but not the value ones - one exception was, on this list, the tin opener, the mid-range one was about 10x the price of the value one and they weren't that different functionality-wise, so I opted for quantity.

Thanks for this thread, OP. Flowers

...to thank everyone who donates to Food Banks?
toffeeboffin · 05/05/2017 23:48

It's a mean person who would begrudge a person in need a sodding biscuit Sad

Allthenamesareusedup · 05/05/2017 23:53

Thanks OP, I donate randomly but your post has just prompted me to go and set up a monthly donation with Trussel Trust. Appreciate the nudge.

HelenaDove · 05/05/2017 23:56

CherryMint i have no idea. I would hope its been relaxed.

Nikitasol · 06/05/2017 00:07

I've barely even thought about food banks till this month when my ex moved out. It also coincided with losing my job (funding cuts). I don't think I've ever been so broke. I've gone to a food bank each week in mid April till now and they've been a lifesaver for me and DS.i cannot thank doners enough for saving our bacon..it has made me cry with feeling loved and supported on more than one occasion.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 06/05/2017 00:13

You're more than welcome.
I sincerely hope your situation improves or has improved.
However if these cretins get back in.
I won't be as generous.
People after all know what there getting with cuntservatives. Cuts and austerity. As my lovely mum used to say. You put em in.
So I trust you're a labour voter.

BlackeyedSusan · 06/05/2017 00:15

I found that living on benefits was doable... for a short while. needing to buy clothes or shoes would have exceeded the budget. I was lucky in that i worked part of the year every year but had a month or two out of work between contracts. things have got a lot worse/more expensive since I last had to claim.

aldi are cheap, but sometimes you need money to save money. you need enough to buy the larger cheaper per kilo stuff. you need money to cook things. (prepayment meters are more expensive) you are fucked if your cooker breaks. or your kettle. we have needed to save money...but there is still a minimum cost. walking instead of the bus wears out shoes quicker. pay more for stuff that needs less cooking or spend more on cooking.

ex only has an undercounter fridge with icebox, that soon reminds you how difficult it makes things not to be able to buy the cheapest packs per kilo as they will not fit in the freezer bit. he can not cook in batches as he has no means to keep the stuff once cooked.

LurpakIstheOnlyButter · 06/05/2017 00:30

Can I point out that we never used to have foodbanks before? I do donate, I am glad they help.

Remember this thread when you vote in the general election. Is this how we want our country to be?

HelenaDove · 06/05/2017 00:32

Also re. batch cooking..................one power cut and you are fucked!

BizzyFizzy · 06/05/2017 03:33

Lurpak,

We've always given free food to people in need. We were better neighbours in the past. Things are not really much different now as they have ever been.

witsender · 06/05/2017 08:42

Foodbanks are for crisis use not long term support. As such the 3 voucher guideline is still applicable, though of course it is flexible. Idea being that clients are supposed to be signposted to receive help that will help long term.

noeffingidea · 06/05/2017 09:06

Not all food banks need referrals. The one I used didn't, but it was for families with a member who was under 25, or people under 25 themselves.
Yes to the 'own brand of gingernuts' - that is what I treated myself to (Tesco value, 25p) when I could. When you are skint you basically have to eat the same few things all the time and any treat just means so much.

noeffingidea · 06/05/2017 09:13

Agree about coffee as well. I wouldn't have been able to get through it without drinking coffee. Poundland do sachets of coffee with the milk already added which can come in handy. Coffeemate is good as well. Many parents would feel bad about using milk instead of giving it to their kids and that is a way round it.