To give Christmas pudding to the foodbank?

[thefairyfellersmasterstroke]

Looking for opinions here - use-by date on the pudding is March 2021. Would donating a specifically Christmas item after the day has passed be a bit insulting, or would it still be used by someone? I'm not sure if it would be a welcome donation or not.

YANBU - Yes, why wouldn't you?
YABU - No, no-one will want it

Bikingbear it's not due to the risk of somebody getting drunk but more that some people don't take alcohol in any form due to religious beliefs. Or for recovering alcoholics the taste could be triggering.

it does seem a bit insulting after christmas.

i thought the donations happened when in the supermarket, can you donate otherwise?

Just keep it and use it next Christmas. Regardless of the date it will be fine.

Absolutely not insulting to anyone desperate for food!

If you cannot donate i second pp who mentioned and app called OLIO. You can give away unwanted food to people in your local area who need/want it.

Its really easy. Just list the item, get the request, arrange collection. I usually do a contactless doorstep collection. Leaving item on the doorstep.
On olio you can share open, or part used items too.

I run a food bank stores and the answer would be depends. This year I am sending on any Christmas items to a local food pantry because we have enough to cover emergency needs without resorting to Christmas food.

I see it as a dignity thing - foodbank clients don't have a choice so I don't send out anything that is out of date or "seasonal" as they are obvious discards from someone's cupboards. At the community pantry people have a choice to purchase the item at a reduced cost...or another item if they are sick of Christmas pudding.

Yes I would donate it. Someone may not have been able to afford it at Christmas time so that would be a welcome surprise 😊

i guess we need to hear from those who receive food from foodbanks.
and agree it is a matter of dignity.

We wouldn't put it in a food parcel at our Foodbank but we have a 'randoms' table which clients help themselves from so it would go on there. Agree with others re alcohol content which might be problematic - our volunteers often take items which can't be used by our clients, for a donation.

Good advice already and only adding an opinion because I have used food banks - I personally would love an xmas pudding because as PP said, easy to cook, is rich & filling and I’d add that puddings would fall into ‘treat’ category once low on food altogether so would be appreciated on that score (sometimes my local foodbank will split wrapped chocolates like roses between bags so each person gets at least three of four chocs)

Of the foodbanks closest to me two would not allow alcohol at all in foodstuffs, a third one would and I’m not sure of the fourth one. If you usually leave it at the supermarket check their notice board as our local one has an information sheet as to which foodbanks it distributes to & any restrictions.

Independent foodbanks such a run by local community groupa may have a bit more leeway with types of food - even down to perhaps knowing the types of food liked by the families they serve (eg pasta over rice, porridge over cereal, beef products over pork etc etc) because they deal with their immediate community.

And just to pre-empt ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ - if a family have cultural/religious/medical reasons or simply wouldn’t be able to use a food because its not what they are used to then tailoring a box is a good idea to maximise food use and family food/nutrition intake.

And lastly - thanks OP and other posters who donate at all, and who offer thought and dignity of choice. Sometimes when you are already feeling humiliated at having to use a foodbank, being treated like a ‘normal’ person with a bit of dignity means as much as the food parcel itself.

Twitter feed for our local food bank stopped wanting Xmas food the week before Xmas, I assume because they had so much.

If you look online they often have lists. All our local ones seem to want cleaning and washing products at the moment, NOT food.

It's a shame, I have 5 puddings this year......soooo many hampers.

My take? Donate what you can, you never know when you’ll hit BUMMERLAND and need a food bank! And get an OTTY Pillow!!

it does seem a bit insulting after christmas.

Is it any more ‘insulting’ than supermarkets offering excess stock of Christmas products at lower prices when they reopen? Surely if people aren’t being ‘insulted’ or having their dignity offended by the opportunity to buy these products cheaply, why is it such a no-no to offer them for free? If someone will buy Christmas pudding for half price in January, surely there are people who will eat if for free.

My dh will eat Christmas pud all through January. Or as long as there’s any left. With leftover brandy butter, cream or custard - he’s not fussy. 🐷
Whatever you do, FGS please don’t bin it! Apart from being a criminal waste, if you’ve got a garden, the birds will relish it.

@waydownwego

Trussell Trust foodbanks won't take food containing alcohol.

Of course they don't. Or sugar.

Can't have those poor people getting drunk (from a Christmas pudding - really?) or having sugar in their tea now, can we?

I hope I never have to use a food bank and be patronised by these do-gooders.

@StillCoughingandLaughing

it does seem a bit insulting after christmas.

Is it any more ‘insulting’ than supermarkets offering excess stock of Christmas products at lower prices when they reopen? Surely if people aren’t being ‘insulted’ or having their dignity offended by the opportunity to buy these products cheaply, why is it such a no-no to offer them for free? If someone will buy Christmas pudding for half price in January, surely there are people who will eat if for free.

Our food bank is a delivery service so the clients don't really get a choice and no opportunity to pick out of a random pile. If you go to a supermarket and they are offering an item that you get to choose to buy or not you are in control. When you ring our food bank in desperation. When you are not in a position to choose your dignity is fairly fragile. I would not knowingly do anything to damage it any further by giving a client something that is obviously only one step away from the bin.

@waydownwego our Trussell franchise foodbank does use Christmas puddings with alcohol... we won't take bottles of wine etc.

Folks need to be aware that Trussell foodbanks are a franchise and each foodbank is individual with its own trustees who make their own rules so what some take/need others don't!

@annevonkleve our Trussell franchise bank takes/distributes sugar too... those we are often in short supply.

OP so long as it is in date I would donate it. Trussell franchise foodbanks have sponge/steamed pudding on their pick list all year round. We use Christmas puddings for as long as we have them.

In terms of christmas stuff where we do come unstuck is the advent calendars/selection boxes but that is purely from a storage point of view. Selection boxes we will strip down if we can after they've gone out at christmas so they become a pile if chocolate bars to be shifted before the easter eggs start appearing....

Just bin it.

If you dont want to eat it then would anyone else? I'd keep it.

I wouldn’t, no. I assume you’ll eat it before March, if it’s normal and fine to eat Christmas pudding after Christmas?

My reasons are twofold: 1. Christmas pudding is not popular at every workplace Christmas night shift bring-a-plate I’ve ever attended (dozens). It’s just not a treat to many many people. 2. It smacks of the rather unpleasant poster earlier who insisted IF they ever had to access a food bank they’d be damn well grateful for whatever they got.

Just not in the spirit of giving, to my mind.

@Italiangreyhound

Ask them but our foodbank wants items with a 6 month use by date so March 2021 would be too short.

Unbelievable, I'm lost for words. I really hope third world countries don't get to know this. Shameful.

@Hayyancairo2 totally agree, they should just accept any old shit people want to get rid of and be grateful!