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!)

It's really sad that you can't accept formula Hayesking. I haven't actually checked with our food bank but I couldn't BF so would have really struggled if I couldn't afford to buy it. If they will accept then I'll put some in.

This has also reminded me to buy a few Ellas kitchen pouches, I used to but now my son has grown up I don't go down that aisle anymore.

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

Hi OP. I used to volunteer at a Foodbank. The chocolate would be accepted but not the wine I'm afraid.

It might be different with different foodbanks though.

At the risk of being flamed - I never donate to food banks. We live in one of the richest countries in the world, and have a world-reknown benefits system. Why do we need food banks? What did people do before them?

My dp bought a house on the edge of a council estate, and knows many neighbours on benefits. Some of them (not all, obvs) live in 3-bed houses as singletons, renting out the other bedrooms. They work cash-in-hand, AND claim every benefit penny they can - they have way more money than we, working FT, have. Pub, fags, cars, drugs, holidays - I would not put it past them to get a bag of free food once a month if they could sob-story their way to one.

Feeling altruistic and fuzzy is great (and yes i do donate to charities regularly, UK and abroad) but I am very hmm about food banks.

I'm assuming that the food bank would be giving the person tinned spaghetti and razors, not one or the other.

Please just give the food that the food bank asks for!

I do, Hayesking! My local bank wants and accepts treats!

Please just give the food that the food bank asks for!

i have no idea what FB you work for but I have had dealings with many and NONE of them have had your attitude. They all accept chocolate and treats and extras. I find it quite sad if you don't.

I was a child who got food bank parcels, hampers at christmas etc, and I can tell you that children certainly appreciate having the little extras.

ptumbi many people share your concerns. All I can say is that it actually isn't that easy to get food from a foodbank. Ours have to be recommended by GP or SS.

Please just give the food that the food bank asks for!

I do, Hayesking! My local bank wants and accepts treats!

sorry - I didn't mean to suggest you should never give treats. Its just that threads like this with lots of well meaning ideas like formula and wine make me frustrated sometimes.

Why do we need food banks?

I looked at the list of my local foodbanks and they all seemed to have opened since 2010. Remember David Cameron's Big Society? Cuts to public services being covered by volunteers and charities.

I don't put razors or toiletries in instead of food. I put them in in addition to food.

Feeling altruistic and fuzzy is great (and yes i do donate to charities regularly, UK and abroad) but I am very hmm about food banks

That's nice for you that you can afford to be so judgemental.
Meanwhile, that fabulous benefit system in one of the richest countries in the world lets vulnerable people starve to death after cutting off all their disability benefits

Thanks MrsMHasIt, I always intend to give stuff to the foodbank but never get round to it but I didn't realise (stupid really) that I could help by donating money - I've just set up a DD to my local one

Its just that threads like this with lots of well meaning ideas like formula and wine make me frustrated sometimes

Every single answer said no to the wine and many food banks want formula, so why would you be frustrated?

I do admit to being judgemental - when you see neighbours drunk down the pub, stoned out of their heads on coke, popping out for a fag...
it actually isn't that easy to get food from a foodbank. Ours have to be recommended by GP or SS. - and I say that it wouldn't surprise me to see these same people sobbing in the GP about how they can't afford food (on account of the drugs/alcohol/fags) and how they are depressed and suicidal, and they have kids at home. Anyone come and check the kitchen cupboards? thought not.

These are not disabled people BTW - these are just people who see free money. MY money.

I'd rather send it to Africa. Now - there is a country whose inhabitants need food.

Hayesking I do appreciate what you are saying - I suppose the main thing is to check what the local banks want, and what they are short of, since they do seem to differ a bit.

I think threads like this are very useful. I had friends who used to take aid convoys, and it was amazing what people would donate - hairbrishes with hair in them, half-used packets of biscuits. It took them more time sorting and getting rid of the rubbish than packing up the good stuff. (Which is just to say that I think you should carry on saying what you need to, even if sometimes I disagree.)

I remember on another thread a recipient of a food bank happiness at finding a tin of Heinz of tomato soup rather than another tin of value baked beans. It's incredibly depressing that we need food banks however I think one of the reasons people dig deep when giving is the hope of bringing a little happiness to others rather than just basic sustenance.

Interestingly our food bank once requested that people do not buy value stuff for donating. Was badly worded and didn't go down well so has been changed subsequently but the gist was everyone needs treats.

Oh yes, we get lots of half eaten stuff.

ffs ptumbi, leaving aside that Africa is not a fucking country and much of it has no need of your food charity, children in the UK are living in poverty and some do not get enough to eat. That's reality.
Donate or don't but don't pretend it isn't happening.

ptumbi, yes, some families do have family members who are alcoholics or have drug issues. All the more reason to support them.

Africa. Now - there is a country whose inhabitants need food.

Ummm. Where to start? ...

Africa is a continent. I have family living in countries in Africa and they live a very happy, well fed life.

Annie It upsets me when people have clearly just had a cupboard clear out and thought "oh the needy can have this", and bring in a box of 1/2 empty jars of out-of-date herbs and spices, or jars of pickled artichoke hearts that have done the rounds of the school tombola since 1985.

Thoughtless.

I put in sanitary towels, pet food, and small treats, as I think maybe those things are less commonly given.

For those of you that shop online with Ocado - you may not realise that you can donate to food banks through them. They say "For every pound you give, we'll give at least two pounds' worth of groceries to food banks"
You can do it if you search for vouchers in the search bar on their app/website.

Just to clarify - I don't work for Ocado or have anything to do with them. I just thought it was a clever idea that some of you might like to know about.