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!)

I don't think any food bank accepts formula due to guidelines from UNICEF.

That's interesting. My local food bank, (in Canada), has formula as one its most needed items.

www.dailybread.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Most_Needed_Food_Items_Dec2016.pdf

"When you visit, you will see disabled people with nothing. If they don't work (and many can't), if they don't have family or friends to live with/feed them, they die."

This is now happening in Britain, because of people like you ptumbi.

Presumably the most useful thing is to donate cash? People individually adding bits and bobs seems amazingly inefficient.

The whole basis is that it runs on donations, whether in kind or just as cash.

It is amazing, but not inefficient.

Though it does help if people look at any lists their local one posts about wanted/not wanted.

Also, to do so before deciding what to sent in with their DC if they go to a school which holds Harvest Festival and which gives donations to food banks.

Sanitary towels and tampons are desperately needed

Presumably the most useful thing is to donate cash? People individually adding bits and bobs seems amazingly inefficient

You know, good things are happening. People are being helped.

It is strange that we have a very good food distribution system in place, and yet have to create this whole separate system.

But many people are helped.

I certainly didn't mean to suggest people shouldn't donate food if that's what they want to do. I was just thinking i want to do something as a regular thing - I presume they'll (the food bank or the recipients) will know better than me what to get though.

I think I'm just overthinking it really.

"Sanitary towels and tampons are desperately needed"

Not at mine, they are on the 'we have enough at the moment' list.

Please check what your food bank wants as it's not the same for all

Presumably the most useful thing is to donate cash? People individually adding bits and bobs seems amazingly inefficient.

splendide, you are right - it is more efficient just to donate cash, and if you do that, then your local food bank will love you!

I think that for many people - including me - who can't guarantee they will always have enough every week to donate (eg I've got small standing orders to a few charities already, and I can't really add any more as a regular thing), then bunging a few extra tins in their trolley when they are feeling flush is an easy thing to do. A great deal of charity fundraising is based on making it very easy for people to donate, and collecting food donations does make it easy for people, even if it strictly speaking isn't the most efficient.

This is a really great thread! Thanks for all the Information!

I too donate gluten and diary free bits as my 2 year old has allergies and it breaks my heart thinking of a child who has a limited choice already having very little to choose from.

For those who are sceptical maybe go work in one for a session and meet the people. Hear their stories.

I heard the other day on tv that over a million people use food banks each week. You can't think a million people are 'abusing the system'. And that one poster in particular is coming across as very heartless

We manage to keep a standing stock of between 10 and 11 tonnes purely off donations from individuals, 'bits and pieces'. This has been up to 14 tonnes, at which point we start getting a bit squeezed for space.

We are down to 8 tonnes at the moment which is worrying, that is probably only between 3 and 4 normal months worth to go out. Luckily we have harvest festival time coming up before Christmas or we could be a bit stuck. We do have a big shortage of some very key items at the moment, which is odd.

Cash is always welcome, but unless in dire emergency would tend to be spent on running costs not food. Not all centres are set up like us, but we have large premises to pay for, a van to run and insure, a couple of part time staff etc.

This thread has been an eye opener. Our church donates food to a local one but I spotted a large crate/container in Tesco this morning and added some bits - disposable cutlery included.

If this thread had made even one more person (and I suspect it truly has) pop something in their trolley to put in the food bank box then that has to be a good thing.

So sorry if this has been asked upthread but I haven't RTFT. Does anyone know how to find your nearest food bank? Is there like some central registry?

Food Banks

Thank you, OP for starting this thread .

I took a bag of stuff down to my Foodbank this morning, I gave them sanpro, bars of Dove soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, baby wipes, women's deodorants, men's deodorants, which my dbro gave me to donate, porridge pots, shampoo and some of those Kelloggs mini cereals.

All of which was gratefully received and they gave me a list of stuff they need atm. Toiletries was one of the things desperately needed atm so will provide them some more.

At hotels DH keeps the toiletries from the bathroom and they are donated. The hotels throw it out anyway so it's great it doesn't go to waste.

I donated some cat and dog food and some free from stuff when doing my weekly shop today. I wouldn't have thought to donate these things if it wasn't for this thread so thanks op for starting it, it's been very enlightening.

If this thread had made even one more person (and I suspect it truly has) pop something in their trolley to put in the food bank box then that has to be a good thing.

This thread made me go to my local food bank's website and set up a monthly donation. I can't believe I only ever thought of it at Christmas or when I happened to notice they were having a donation drive.

I am going to make a conscious effort every time I go now, even if it's a tin of Ambosia custard and tinned peaches, that might just make someones day during a shitty time.
also going to look at putting together a Christmas hamper, am googling this as I type (well you know what I mean). If I start now, it means I might not notice it so much, if that makes sense, weekly shop bill wise).

Reading this thread meant I did a separate mini shop this morning and put in a load of items to my shop's foodbank box. Thank you for everyone's positive contributions; it's well worth it for raising awareness.

I always put in things children like, it must be awful giving your kids only the boring essentials. Peanut butter, multipack cereals, chocolate and biscuits, jellies. Also cat and dog food so families can keep their pets when times are hard.

Not a food bank, but I know some local people who volunteer with the homeless; they will let it be known each week, what they need.
Chocolate is often asked for. Alcohol, no, absolutely not.
All the usual food staples, plus toiletries.

It's handy to know what will be most useful.
I try to give anytime I can. They do marvellous work.

What I sometimes do (in case others have been equally dense about the possibility) is add stuff for the food bank when I do our shop at Aldi/Lidl, then drop it off at the nearest Tesco/Waitrose with a collection point - the FB collection is by the door and no one cares it's from elsewhere. Just means my donation budget goes further.