To ask what to put into a foodbank shop?

[PumpkinSquash]

Wanting to take some food to the local foodbank in the next few weeks.
Never really donated to one before, so what do you suggest?
So far I'm thinking -

• tea
• biscuits
• hot chocolate
• pasta
• dried noodles (easy to eat if you don't have much cooking facilities)
• soup
• beans
• maybe a few advent calendars for the kids as it's coming up to Christmas

Crossed post with MyUserName

I've seen the food bank in my local tesco. It always seems to be full of food, but never things like washing powder, shampoo and conditioner, shower gel, tampons/ sanitary towels. Also baby essentials like wipes and nappies, baby toiletries.

Also if you use Ocado you can give a certain amount of money to a food bank and they will match it...
Thanks for posting this. I use Ocado regularly and had no idea.
They should make it more obvious on their website.

I'd get small selection boxes rather than advent calendars. Probably nicer to have a 'gift' for Christmas Day than a little thing every day

You can often get 2 for a £1 at places like Home Bargains.

Also if you can give money to the food bank that is really helpful as they can go and get what they need at cheap wholesalers rather than you paying full retail

This is the urgent list for our local food bank.

Sanpro

I always go for things that can be prepared with a kettle or just need heating like Mugshots or tinned curry.
And always UHT milk as I never seem to see any in the basket but think it must be needed.

I always donate pasta and noodle pots (the nice ones not pot noodles) and porridge pots. They only need a kettle of boiling water to turn into a meal.

And chocolate and sanitary towels.

It really makes much more sense to give money so the food bank can buy exactly what they need. If they can buy in bulk it'll cost less.

I try to go for non-food stuff as the word food bank means that people focus on food.

• sanitary towels

-tampons -toothpaste -cleaning spray/bleach -toothbrush -razors

• shampoo

-soap (cheaper than shower gels) -dishwashing detergent -bin bags

The only food I get is UHT milk for people with allergies so Lactofree/Oat Milk etc for the UHT section

I saw someone drop off lots of pet food which seemed like a good idea to me.

I've started looking out for things on offer that don't need any heating, like those long life tuna salads, so people in dire circumstances can still eat something a bit more nutritious than crisps or biscuits.

I used to be quite ignorant, I'm sorry to say, until someone explained on here why they ask for instant custard etc ('surely not, pasta must be of more use' ) and that some people using food banks wouldn't have the means to prepare or cook a proper meal. Now I look at what they ask for but also think what I might like if I only had a kettle or microwave etc.

I was quite glad to see ours had chocolate bars in the 'we've got plenty, thanks' list

Having read a MN thread before I now do things like Pasta n Sauce, instant porridge etc where you just add water. And mini cereal pack and long life milk for children. Didn't think of loo roll and washing up liquid though.

Mine says

URGENTLY NEEDED FOOD ITEMS

TINNED FRUIT
TINNED MEAT
RICE PUDDING
JAM
PACKET NOODLES
PACKET MASH
WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF

BEANS
PASTA
TINNED VEGETABLES

My retired neighbour volunteers at the foodbank near us. They are encouraging people to donate a few different items for christmas so food parcels can be a little special. He recommended tinned salmon or tinned ham as a little treat so they can have something different. Also our foodbank is overun with pasta so would prefer other alternatives. Our local tesco weighs all the stuff in the collection point and then donates a certain amount of money to the foodbank based on thay weight.

I like to give quality things if I can, and treats. I think it must be depressing enough to use a foodbank without having to have nothing but value beans and cheap tinned soup. So I like to add nice things that aren't necessarily essential - maybe chocolate, advent calendars, biscuits, desserts, and nice quality tins and packets of things. Plus toothpaste, toothbrushes, toiletries and pet food.

Ours is always asking for spam!

As much as spam is not my go to protein of choice, I suspect it's on the list because it's high protein and high fat, and long lasting.

We buy a tin or two when we are in Waitrose and put it in the collection point.

You can get a wide variety of tinned meat, which I am sure would be greatly appreciated. Things like beef stew meat etc.

I tend to do (not all at once but when I donate)

Chocolate spread
Jam or honey
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Shower gel or soap
Washing powder tablets (they come in packs of two inside the box so can be split more easily)
Washing up liquid
Cordial or long life fruit juice
Coffee
Tea
Chocolate
Biscuits
Baby wipes
Nappies
Sanitary stuff
Pet food
Selection boxes (grab when reduced after Christmas and they can be opened and split into individual bars)

My grandson is helping pick some nice treat stuff for his own donation to the food bank- things like chocolate decorations, tinned strawberries, little Christmas puddings, cheese biscuits etc. I've explained to him that not everyone has enough money to have all the nice stuff he has and he's so proud of his box of goodies. Gonna take it in this week with him so he can give it to them. Good to start them thinking of others from a young age ( he's 4). I also donate ordinary stuff throughout the year, just thought it would be nice to do a special Christmas box this year with him.

Sometimes there’s a list up in the local supermarket with suggestions. The sort of things I’ve donated in the past include

Tea bags
Coffee
Sugar
Biscuits
Porridge oats
Mug shots
Sanpro
Tuna
Baked beans
Pasta
Chocolate

I hadn’t t thought of looking for info from the local food bank to see if they’re looking for any items in particular. I will go and Google!

I’ve just looked and they’re really short of

Small bags of sugar
Children’s toothpaste
Coffee
Tinned meat
Tinned veg
Tinned fish

My sons school was recently collecting for the local food bank, we sent in pasta, rice, tins of baked beans and a few packs of custard creams. I can't remember what else.

My local food bank has a list on their website and 'most urgently needed items' list on the collection box at the supermarket, that they update often. I normally take a photo on my phone before I start shopping so I can carry the list with me. Their last list I've got is:

• tinned fruit
• long life milk
• long life juice
• shampoo
• pasta sauce

Children's gloves (2 pairs for £1 in Poundland at the moment)

Packs of small Christmas cards for children to use for school friends (40 cards in a box for 99p in Card Factory)

As others have said, check whether they have a list. We've just done a collection at work, and we were all surprised to see sanpro on the 'we've got plenty...' list. Clearly everyone hereabouts thinks no-one else will donate it.

I tend to try and build meals so instant mash, tinned beef casserole, tinned carrots, or tinned tomatoes, tinned fried onions, tinned pulses and easy cook pasta, sponge pudding and custard. They probably get split up but it feels like I'm giving a balanced selection.

Anything protein-y. That tends to be lacking in food banks, so tinned meat, fish, curry, stewed beef etc.
Also lentil soups, instant porridge etc.