To wonder if foodbank supply is outstripping demand in your area too?

[etherealfeline]

I've just seen a Facebook post from a local foodbank (which was just set up a couple of months ago in response to the Marcus Rashford campaign) appealling to people to come and take food away ... they've got an oversupply. A few days ago I saw one from a similar group which was parceling up excess food to be delivered to local schools with requests that they be handed out to families (which probably gives the schools a few logistical issues in the current climate - we're in Tier 3).

Just wondering if this is happening in other areas too. I get that there are families in need, but I wonder if supply is outstripping demand, or perhaps the problem is more the type of food that is being donated in such large quantities (e.g. selection boxes, which are a cheap treat but don't feed a hungry family).

Where is this food bank?. Im up north and the food banks here are struggling to meet the demand.

From the appeals I’ve seen, food banks are desperately short in my area too. Also northern England.

Ours has asked that people save their donations until after Christmas now because they've run out of storage space. The local schools have all been collecting so they've had a huge increase in donations.

I walk past a food bank every day, some of the food is outside on a table, never seen anyone there. That doesn't mean there's no demand of course.
Although this isn't a wealthy area it's not really deprived either, presumably it's worse in other areas.

I volunteer at our local food bank. Last year we were struggling to keep up with demand. This year although we've got at least double the amount of people using the service, we've got plenty. Lots of donations this year. More than in the last 2 years put together. Everyone in the community pulling together in hard times

yeah, someone from my son's school was offering me a food parcel the other day as we stood next to my 35k BMW. I wonder where this food would have been coming from?

In the past we've also been given presents as I have a disabled child. Obviously from well meaning people but we're not poor and I'd prefer actual people in need to get stuff.

Then why us Unicef giving food boxes to UK families for the first time ever?

Not my experience, but i know in some areas that the problem isn't lack of demand but lack of access. It's quite common for people to need a "chit" from a limited number of referring organisations - around here, for example, faith organisations, police, social services etc. Many of the people who are most needy are often also most at risk, and obtaining those chits can be impossible, and often somewhere totally different than the foodbank (so travelling around, often by public transport). Our food banks are struggling to meet demand, but also know there is an untapped reservoir of demand.

@Cleanmean

Where is this food bank?. Im up north and the food banks here are struggling to meet the demand.

I’m in the north too but I know 2 food banks that have had to stop donations. One is a new community led one specifically set up for people on a certain estate who have been hit really hard with job losses. The other is a long standing one. We aren’t in a big city though, rather a couple of small neighbouring towns working together.

Food banks typically see a high increase of donations closer to Christmas.

Surplus in December not reflective of the year.

Our local charity hub sometimes finds itself with a glut of stuff to give away. Normally short-dated items.

South Birmingham here and our local food bank is well stocked (sometimes over) for food items, but hygeine/toiletries items are desperately needed.
They co-ordinate efforts with other food banks who may need particular food items and send the items there.

Yes same here, they have asked people to donate money if they can and still want to, which will then be used when needed to ensure a supply if/when stocks run now or sadly demand increases.

My parents live in the North, and their local food bank has requested people donate to other areas of the region because they cannot take in any more food. The only things they're still accepting are sanitary products, and I don't think they even accept baby milk anymore, which is annoying. The UK has always assumed demand is greater than supply in terms of foodbanks, hence all the stats are about the number of food banks in the UK - this signals a need to have more nuance so we can more appropriate gauge need and where we fall short.

North Yorkshire here, I dropped some bits at our Food Bank last week and asked if they were short of anything in particular, they said they are absolutely inundated with food and to come back in February!

People have responded incredibly generously to the need they see around them.

I think the need is still high, but the generosity has been outstanding, as people club together to thumb their noses at Covid!

I would say that hardship is not necessarily for food, and not necessarily financial. So there are a lot of people locally that appreciate a home cooked meal being delivered regularly, but they aren't particularly hard up. There are a lot of people who are struggling for all sorts of things- but food is just the first problem, fuel, access to medical support, educational/behavioural support etc is just as great.

This is why I switched to giving a regular monetary donation to the food bank rather than donating food items - I figured that way they can buy the stuff they are actually short of or maybe even give top up people’s electricity with it if that’s what’s needed.

Not in my area. There's huge demand for food.. Another issue with foodbanks is that really vulnerable people are hard to reach. They often can't struggle and may have issues communicating. What is needed more than simply making food available is providing much meaningful support, especially where children are involved. There are children being looked after by parents who have real issues with time keeping and would struggle to even access the food bank.

Why couldn’t the over supplied food banks transport supplies to the food banks that are struggling? I’m sure there’s a valid reason, but it seems weird that they’d ask for donations to stop rather than just sharing them.

I also agree with PP about giving money rather than food (I do give food too if I happen to have extra of stuff they'll need).

@NailsNeedDoing

Why couldn’t the over supplied food banks transport supplies to the food banks that are struggling? I’m sure there’s a valid reason, but it seems weird that they’d ask for donations to stop rather than just sharing them.

I would guess lack of funds, lack of people to drive the food, lack of vans to transport it, lack of time to ring around foodbanks and arrange it at a time staff are available to take it, lack of storage facilities when food arrives.

UNICEF apparently disagree as they are stepping in to help our most desperate and in need citizens.

I have seen signs up in the local Tesco by the food bank donation point pleading with people not to donate pasta and baked beans as they get tonnes of it. Trolley always seems to have a lot of both of those in it anyway so maybe the local food bank do have to offload some of it quickly to make space other things.

We're in outer London, a relatively well off area but certainly not immune to the impact of Covid - there seems to be a foodbank appeared in almost every ward - the one that posted the message is in one of the poorest wards, and neighbouring a much poorer area. Pre-covid I think there was only one foodbank in the borough.

Funnily enough I had the same thought recently. Our food bank is overstocked with food, but does desperately need toiletries and cleaning items. We try to check what items are needed before donating.
Our food bank is in a relatively deprived part of SW.

I work with a food bank in the North and they still need donations desperately - what they have is depleted very quickly especially at the moment.