To put wine and chocolate in the food bank?

[Nunyabusiness]

Picked up a miniature white wine and a 5 pack of twirls, husband was aghast. My view is that people who are struggling to feed their families wouldn't have funds for such treats.

(I did also put tinned fruit and veg in, by the way!)

Exactly expat

That was really thoughtful

Yes it is the breast is best lobby. It's nothing to do with contamination. And they don't advise buying it and giving it out, they advise not giving it at all even though they admit there isn't another immediate source of help for formula. UNICEF say: 'there is the potential for changing the infant feeding context, culture and norm in the area, or region.'

Which in other words means they're prioritising promoting breastfeeding above making sure formula fed infants have access to food.

There is also some guff about not getting the correct formula (although mothers seem to manage fine getting it in shops). But that's a load of crap because they'll probably end up getting cows milk or even inappropriate solids which would be even worse.

And yes I do think they do scummy things. For one thing their advice nearly killed my first child and then they described children who might die due to their promotion of breastfeeding above all else as 'collateral damage'. For another thing their constant harassment when I was on SCBU with my second traumatic premature birth almost drove me to suicide. They thought I should prioritise staying in hospital for an extra month to breastfeed was more important than my eldest not going into care or alternatively not being able to pay for rent, food or bills if my self employed husband stayed home to care for him.

And I know plenty of other people with similar stories. So yes I have a chip on my shoulder and yes I do think they do scummy things. And no I don't think any good they do outweighs the evil crap they get involved with like starving formula fed babies to serve their agenda.

Can someone answer these factual questions in a factual way, based on knowledge and experience please;

Why do food banks not accept donated formula?

Do food banks supply formula?

If not what do parents of ff babies do? If they cannot afford formula (which is expensive) and cannot resume feeding if they stopped or whatever?

What do food banks do with donated formula?

I have not seen a notice at the collection point telling me not to give formula (not that I ever have).

What a pile of horseshit. Nobody is starving formula fed babies, you scaremongering liar.

Chocolate advent calendars too. Imagine having to say no to that to your kids? Survival is about more than just bread & milk.

Does anyone still use top-up?

You must live in a different world.

I'm pretty sure 'milk tokens' are still provided by the GP/HV for formula fed babies when parents are low-income.

If you go to the Trussell Trust website, www.trusselltrust.org, there is a section which lists priority products. I have a good relationship with my local foodbank and so each time I go I ask what they most need.

People who rely on foodbanks really need the essentials, not just food, but toiletries. I always include a few sanitary towels and tampons when I donate.

Might be worth bearing in mind.

"With Healthy Start, you get free vouchers every week to spend on milk, plain fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, and infant formula milk. You can also get free vitamins.
Pregnant or have children under the age of four? You could qualify if you're on benefits, or if you're pregnant and under 18."

@MargaretTwatyer Wow just wow

I unfortunately have had to use the food bank twice in the last 3 years. Once around christmas the treats and advent calendars really helped to cheer us up at an unbelievably hard time. We recieved basics and got to pick a number of extras. I have since donated lots to the food bank and found items like sanatary towles/ tampons , toiletries , nappies ect a god send when your really hard up. Thank you to all that donate !

I honestly don't believe volunteers help themselves to food bank donations. For that to happen there would have to be a culture where everyone involved was complicit. I can't imagine that being the case. And surely the odd bad apple is soon weeded out.

And think about it, who would willingly give up hours of their time in order to filch a few tins of beans or the odd box of Roses?

I think it's a load of shit about them not taking formula. Unless anyone can link to a specific charity's policy. My local food bank will use donated funds to buy formula and specific nappies for families with wee babies. I know that because I asked when they gave a talk at work.

I recall they asked for winter coats for children though.

I've been part of my local latch on service for 8 years I've never had anything to do with food banks. Generally we just label bf friendly ships and cafes and run groups in children's centres.

You must be very naive if you don't think this happens.

BabsGanoush you seriously think giving a homeless woman a bottle of shampoo will make her more vulnerable than she was already? Is this due to the roving gangs of desperado shampoo-thieves, who would otherwise leave her well alone?

And think about it, who would willingly give up hours of their time in order to filch a few tins of beans or the odd box of Roses?

Exactly, some people just like to think the worst of people.

Queen, I can't speak for all of them obviously but I don't know any who do take formula. However, as I previously stated and as you did, they do buy formula themselves. No-one is stopping babies having formula.
Margaret, you had an awful time and Iam genuingely sorry that you didn't get the support you needed. Please don't tar everyone with the same brush though. I have known hundreds (not an exageration) of breastfeeding mothers and there is only one (who was an idiot about many things) who would not do whatever they could do to support you in that situation regardless of your feeding method.

Apologies if this has already been said but... this thread inspired me to find out about our local food bank and I have found that they have a Facebook page. It looks like they update their page with what they need which is great because now I can just look on there to see if there is anything they particularly need that week and drop it in the box in the local supermarket. So if anyone is unsure about what to put in the box maybe check if your local food bank has a Facebook page.

Has formula got a short shelf life? They can't accept anything that has.

I work for a homeless charity, and items that we are always short of are toiletries, and especially female sanitary products. In summer bottles of water and sun screen.

As I work with people who are homeless, alcohol is a definite no-no, as a lot of the rough sleepers have alcohol/drug problems. I would imagine food banks wouldn't accept alcohol either.

I can see why homeless people would need water, but I would assume that's not going to be the same for people who have somewhere to live but are just very, very short of money. Water (from the tap) is one thing they will have.

Thank you for your brilliant post mygorgeousmilo and thank you to all of you on here who volunteer at a food bank x

Buttery - people who are homeless are not necessarily rough sleepers. A lot of them sofa surf and have nowhere to stay during the day.

Gertie - if that's the case I reckon it's the shelf life. It's nothing to do with what they will provide - I know my food bank buys the required formula I imagine they all do so feck all going on from bf supporters in the negative sense there. Next