Food Parcels

[FeelinFagin]

We received two government food parcels today. I think DH must have said okay on the phone call he got after he received his shielding letter. I have medicated hypertension but presume not needing to shield so don't know if the second box was down to the fact we're a family of 5?
The thing is, he's still going to work. Granted it's isolated with no one else around in his work area, but going to work means technically not shielding. We've also been going shopping (albeit as rarely as humanly possible) as theres 5 of us and need to eat.
I haven't seen a delivery slot at Tesco since all this began, even staying up after midnight to nab a slot.
I just feel guilty that we should probably not have the food parcels. We do have food and we still go out when we have to (DH drives, I don't)
So, should we call up asap and cancel the boxes or use the opportunity to not have to go into the public shopping? What does the MN jury say?

I probably look fine as I rush to the door to answer but my blood condition isn't visible
I did cancel but they delivered today. The local school is collecting it to use for vulnerable children and families

We got our first food parcel today, feels very strange getting it as we do have food in the house and can afford to buy our own food, but I am also very grateful and it will be helpful.

We are having Tesco priority deliveries but the 80 items cap Tesco have is quite limiting for a family of 4 when needs to cover at least 7 days with no topping up during the week etc. We’ve done well not to go to any supermarkets for 7 weeks and with no one to help drop off us supplies so knowing we will get this now for some basics really helps with our Tesco delivery and remove some of the stress from that

It is difficult. It made me feel guilty because we can afford to buy food but I'm really uneasy going out to shop and delivery slots haven't existed for us for 7 weeks now and it'll be 9 by the time we get one.

DH works on his own, we never break any lockdown rules, we wash all the food packaging coming into the house, DH has to leave his coat, shoes and bag in a box at the front door and he goes straight for a shower when he gets in from work. It's the closest to shielding we can possibly get.

Still, we've said no to more boxes now. But these two will come in very handy.

My relative has been getting them and doesn't eat any of it. He gives the box to his mate who now has a huge amount of pasta, pasta sauce and other tinned stuff. So he asked me if I wanted any of it! I declined and told him he should probably make them aware it is not needed.

Should have said I think if your using the food and it helps you out, then carry on. Maybe you could ask their opinion on it at the next drop off they may have people who really cannot get out that are waiting for one.

Oh we're definitely using the food. Thanks to the parcels we can put off shopping with the dreaded public for quite a few more days at least. Though I did give my neighbour the tuna as none of us like it. Even my cat says no to tuna.

The tuna's about the only thing I can eat ( pescetarian). Swap for corned beef anyone?

You can always donate unwanted items to the Foodbank. My local foodbank has massive shortages in every category so any donation would be welcome.

My very local (village) foodbank refused my donation as they have too much food and no one to give it to. The nearest small town will take it...but of course someone has to collect it from me and that's a 15 mile round trip!

Anyone currently receiving food parcels should think it through carefully before declining them.The delivery of these parcels has been logistically difficult and I know from volunteering in a food bank that it's been impossible to get back on the list should your circumstances change.

Agree with pp, accept the parcels because you don't know if we'll have another lockdown in the winter. Slowly start to prep for winter now because there will be another spike in infections once lockdown is over. This pandemic isn't going to go away quickly, the lockdown was designed to give the NHS breathing space.

I am getting them, the first one was left on the doorstep and the doorbell hadn't rung. I got a second one a few days later - again wasn't expecting it and the bell was rung at 7am and I ignored it. I have seen advice on my local council page to update the details on the gov.uk site and this would not affect supermarket status. This is what I have done as I am able to get delivery slots and can afford food. I will donate all the non-perishable items to the food banks once I am able.

@Griselda1 and @Ineedabreak19 Eek! That's a good point. Now I'm wondering if I've done the right thing cancelling.

Other than the tuna we would certainly use all the food in there and nothing is unwanted so no food bank donating this week and according to the one local food bank (seen on a Facebook post) they're not taking donations right now as they're in receipt of a lot of commercial donations and have excessive amounts. How nice that in times of crisis, the British businesses are really stepping up. Let's hope it continues after.

It will depend on the take up in your local area but I think you should say you've reconsidered and try and get it back. In my area that wouldn't be possible because it's so over subscribed. Put together a really good store of basic foods and be prepared for whatever's to come. Best case scenario is you have enough beans and pasta to last a while.

I woke up this morning to find another parcel (one) on the doorstep. Must have come before 7:30am. I guess our cancellation has just dropped us to one box instead of cancelling like we requested. Still, I am very grateful and we'll use everything here (except the carrots which sadly had rotted completely and turned to mush and had leaked out of their bag .)

In our last box, our carrots were all slimy too, and one of the 5 oranges was totally rotten.
Are we getting chuck outs that are past their sell by date, or are they stored somewhere for too long?

I long for cheese, tomatoes and broccoli.

Weird, we were due one Monday but it just never showed up and nothing today either. Wonder why they stopped them

Happened to me - when they rang I told them not to send me them as I'm still working (can't shield as essential role). They sent one anyway. I called my council and asked them to take me off the distribution list and donated the food to a local family who are struggling financially due to loss of income.

Rotten potatoes here today, have managed to wash and save half a bag but will need to mash them today for them to be usable. This weeks selection is definitely more random, would struggle more to make meals out of this weeks box if that’s all we had access to. It will be 90% used though and am still very grateful for it as a family a lot of it is key staples and taking pressure of the Tesco order

Half a red cabbage....so the cut surface is brown and dried out. Some of the tins dented as usual as well. One roll of the must unusable dreadful loo roll - we use it instead of kitchen roll as it is too rough to come anywhere near my rear end! And bungs up the drainage too.

Why, when the govt can furlough 6m people at up to £2500 a month are we only seen as deserving of the minimum amount of random supermarket reject food? (And the rest of the public expect us to be terribly grateful for it?)

@PumpkinP

Mine hasn't turned up either, was due yesterday (Tues) and nothing today. I rang my local council helpline today to see if they had any info, because lets face it, anything could be the reason, not enough drivers, van broken down, a glitch in the matrix etc. The really lovely person I spoke to didn't know so she's passing the details on to the shielding team.

I've only had an email from ASDA about priority slots, so Monday night I'd rung Tesco's helpline, and whilst that call could be a whole post in itself, it made me wonder, after reading about priority slots maybe cancelling the food boxes if you were signed up, I wondered if this was what happened, though it would have been super quick as I rang Tesco at 8pm Mon night, and my parcel has been arriving at 8am Tues but you know, again, the matrix...

The council person I spoke to told me that it won't be that as far as she's aware, plus they are having to manually go in and send cancel requests, even though we send them by text. I also asked her if the scheme had a facility to change to once a fortnight and where I am there isn't. So I'm not in desperate need of food because lord there is so much pasta and rice, and I've discovered that although I don't usually like tomato soup, if I cook my pasta in the soup it's rather nice.

If you have food parcels coming don't suggest any deviations or changes. I know people who've lost them through complaining about the contents, asking for substitutions etc. Most areas have a lengthy waiting list for them.

MySweetAudrina
Here is what was in mine last week:-
2 toilet rolls.
2 packets of digestive biscuits.
2 jars of pasta sauce.
1 packet spaghetti pasta.
1 packet long grain rice.
Small net of clementines.
Bag of 6 apples.
Small bag of potatoes.
1 bar of soap.
Litre of apple juice.
2 x 1 litre semi skimmed milk.
1 small tin tuna.
1 loaf sliced white bread.
1 small tin of ham.
2 tins of naked beans.
3 tins of tomato soup.
3 tiny bottles of bubble bath.

OP Slightly off topic I know, but I was interested to see that you said that you had 'medicated hypertension'
I also have this,along with rheumatoid and osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. When I received the letter saying that I should be shielding,I was a bit mystified as to why. I am not on any immunosupressant drugs for my RA and didn't think that RA or OA,or fibromyalgia itself would be reasons for me being classed as 'vulnerable'. A friend of mine insists that it's because of my hypertension. I was

Ffs BAKED beans,not NAKED beans! Should go well with the 'rubbed fruit'!

Thanks Mirador atleast it’s not just me then who hasn’t received mine, Still nothing came today. I may call them tomorrow then, I know you shouldn’t rely on them but I was low on toilet roll and though oh lucky I have that box coming on Monday, that didn’t show up, so that was abit annoying!

Laughing at naked beans