About food banks.

[fucketyfuckety]

Having a conversation with my mum yesterday, she's a lovely person, always tries to help others wherever she can etc. She was having a bit of a rant about how shocked she was that people bought and donated smart price or value range food to food banks, when they could afford better quality products. She said it treated people who go to food banks as if they're not "worth" better food. I was really cringing because I try to donate as regularly as possible but I do pretty much always buy value ranges. I also use quite a lot of value range products myself and feel that my money will stretch further if I donate these rather than expensive alternatives. I'm not on a mega tight budget but I'm by no means rich either and need to be careful with money. So AIBU to donate value products to food banks? Or is my my being unreasonable to think that it reflects badly on the person donating?

Like most people, I give what I'd eat myself.

A crucial comma missing there: "custard, tampons..."

Bloody hell. Hadn't thought about hygiene or fuel poverty I buy nappies and soap, but will definitely be picking up pads toothpaste and toothbrushes too. This has been so helpful!

I'm always a bit hmm when someone puts one tin of a premium brand product into a food bank collection box when they could have put 3 or 4 tins of an own-brand or value-brand product in.

They've possibly been given it as a present, they know it's something they don't like, so donate it rather than throw it away.

Or perhaps they picked it up by mistake in the supermarket? 🙂

When I donate I tend to set a budget e.g. £5 so tend to buy value stuff so I get more for my money.
I did donate Cadburys advent calendars one year though

bingo what has stuck with me from a previous thread is to imagine someone in a hostel with just a kettle or a single ring hob for food prep - even some of the Mug Shot type stuff requires adding milk, which they may not have.

I'm not sure whether someone in the tough position of having to use a food bank particularly cares whether their beans are Heinz or not edsheeran. Three meals with value vs one with branded isn't going to be a difficult decision for most families.

Yes, this is true I guess. I think I thought like the OPs mum that I wouldn't want people to think that they are not 'worth' anything more than value stuff?

I don't even know how food banks work Do you go there and get stuff that amounts to a certain total? Do you get to choose or do you just get given? Please don't flame! I always find the food bank threads on here really informative and I always buy sanitary products and toiletries to donate as well now.

I think the volunteers put together packages to last them a few days of various essentials. I think they use donations to buy
the fresh stuff. I imagine the larger donations - like huge sacks of pasta - get divided.

well since I certainly am not going to buy "better" for the foodbank than I buy for my family, they get the economy stuff because that's what I can afford.

I could always just not bother and buy the "better" (mostly it isn't) stuff for me and my family instead

I buy a mixture of value brand products and brand name ones. As previous posters have said, if you buy value products, you can buy a lot more - but it is also nice to put in some things that are nicer too.

I also try to put in a mixture of essentials or basics and things that are more of a luxury - nice biscuits, for example. I remember reading a thread on here, where a MNer who had used food banks said that one of the things that really hurt, about being so hard up, was not being able to give her kids a treat - so I put in some sweets or chocolate or biscuits.

I also put in tampons and sanitary towels - I hate the thought of women struggling every month, because they simply cannot afford sanitary protection - or they have to choose food for their kids is particular need.

I put in what I'd buy for us but that includes basics/ value stuff. We buy a mix of all kinds of ranges some basics stuff is absolutely perfect, some not so good but the same goes for branded or premium stuff.
I try to go for what they ask for because I cook from scratch a lot but understand that what I'd buy for us might not be suitable for everyone.

I only put in what I'd buy for myself. Own brand cereal, pasta, sweetcorn but branded tea bags, jam, beans, toiletries etc. I'd be a bit if anyone commented on me chucking Ribena and Nutella in the box.

My kids will only eat morrisons basics chocolate chip cookies - apparently they have the right amount of chocolate chips to cookie. They complained when I bought the Maryland ones once because they didn't have the cheap ones.

I put in the food bank items than I would eat myself. So yes I do sometimes put in premium branded stuff. I don't see the problem tbh; all donations are needed.

I don't ever buy value items but when I was buying for Nourish food bank I bought a load of value items.

Shrug.

I get a mix. Value is fine for lots of products. I buy branded for toiletries (especially sanitary products).
I help in a food bank and we see a huge mix of foods. A box always has some yummy treats as well as filling and meal-worthy food.

I always wonder why they never collect at Aldi?

We do. It all depends on your local store and whether they have arrangements with your local Foodbank.

When my daughter was recommended to the foodbank by one of the people caring for her at the time (a long and very boring story, I was also caring for her but was not in a position to help her financially at the time), she was completely overwhelmed with what she was given, a mixture of premium brands and value, all were very welcome.

The food was delivered to her, I don't know if this is normal. She lives in a village a twenty minute drive from the nearest town so that may have been why it was delivered, I don't know.

She received food for two weeks. The second week covered Christmas. She received a complete Christmas dinner (I can't remember how the turkey type element was dealt with), crackers, a tin of Roses, and all the little luxury bits. They even included a small present for her baby. We both cried when this was delivered and words cannot express the gratitude we still feel.

Things have looked up now and I always try to put something in the food bank box, especially sanitary products, and a few little treats.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributes. The food banks are a real lifeline in horrible times.

It varies. Some value products are really not very nice, some are fine (tinned tomatoes etc are fine, value rice is no different to non-value rice but value pasta tends to be tough and nasty-tasting).
I also agree with putting in one or two 'treat' things if you can. I tend to put in a fair bit of stuff like tuna, sweetcorn, ratatouille, tinned ham, that can be eaten cold.

Custard tampons

This has been a really interesting thread. I hold my hands up that I'd never given a thought to fuel poverty, I'll make sure that I get things that are easy to cook now. Sanitary products I buy after reading that thread (good old Mumsnet!!) I can see what some people mean about having the odd "treat" thing that makes them feel good. Hmmm food for thought, literally

I've helped out in a food bank for a few weeks now and discovered that when they spend their own money they try ti get the most from it so value or effectively whats on sale to produce the best value. They di say however it is nicer when there are nicer things to give out. Essentially they are happy with anything

Yeah i usually do a mixture of own brand and brand names, and things that are on offer. I also mix it up with essentials - beans, tinned fruit, san pro and then non-essentials- tea, coffee, sugar, biscuits, multi pack crisp. I aim to spend 10% of every shop i do for myself on food bank stuff because that's what i can afford and as i put the stuff in the collection box I send a silent thank you out to the universe that i'm not in a position that i need to use a food bank.

As an aside the Scottish Government are planning to provide free sanpro to women and girls who are unable to afford it. Halleluia!!