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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unwanted food parcel

127 replies

Basecamp65 · 21/01/2021 11:44

Just wondered if anyone could give some advice on what to do.

Last week we found on our doorstep a bag with 2 pieces of clingfilm wrapped cheese, a cucumber, some carrots and some apples.

We thought it looked like a free school meals top up. although we have two children we do not get free meals. We asked the couple of people near us with children but none of them get free school meals.

We did not know what to do and thought that the people dropping if off had probably got the right number but wrong street - think rows of terraced houses that all look the same and have similar names. We did not know what else to do.

But it has now happened again. we simply do not know who to contact to say they are dropping it at the wrong house - obviously there is a family going without.

Any advice?

OP posts:
AnyTimeSoon · 21/01/2021 12:30

Obvious solution would be to leave a note for an entire week on your door.
If its happening weekly then they will be bound to see this in a week.

rubybarley · 21/01/2021 12:31

Why does it matter that you don’t have a garden? How does that stop you putting a note on the door?

Robbybobtail · 21/01/2021 12:33

I wonder (I honestly don’t mean to be rude) whether someone local thinks you might be grateful of it? Maybe someone thinks you don’t have much money and is trying to be kind? I agree you should leave a polite note on the door.

FortunesFave · 21/01/2021 12:38

Stacy but she won't be on their list...that's obviously what she means

Backbee · 21/01/2021 12:41

Most things are coordinated from the council, I would give them a call/email and see if they can get to the bottom of it.

StacySoloman · 21/01/2021 12:44

@FortunesFave

Stacy but she won't be on their list...that's obviously what she means
What difference does that make? You call and say “a food package was delivered to 5 Acacia Crescent but we’re not from school/on fsm so please check your records”
Notanorthadontist · 21/01/2021 12:45

Perhaps one of your neighbours collects for Olio and these were unclaimed items they didn’t want to waste?

FortunesFave · 21/01/2021 12:46

Stacy Confused the school won't have any record of them! Why would she ask them to check their records?

MrsDThomas · 21/01/2021 12:46

1st place id go is Facebook, not here.

With a query like this , local is best.

daisypond · 21/01/2021 12:47

You call and say “a food package was delivered to 5 Acacia Crescent but we’re not from school/on fsm so please check your records”

Call who? Obviously not a school. Not the council either. So, who?

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 21/01/2021 12:47

@Allispretty

Why on earth some people post on here before taking other action is beyond me 🙄...put something on Facebook or if you don't have it contact your local council or put a note on your door it's not hard
why on earth do people post such unhelpful and idiotic comments? Hmm

Thank god not everybody is that ridiculous and not afraid to ask questions instead of being an imbecile. The world would be a better place if people were not so scared of asking questions.

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 21/01/2021 12:48

I'd go facebook too, but there are several very good groups locally.

The note on the door is a good idea

StacySoloman · 21/01/2021 12:51

@FortunesFave

Stacy Confused the school won't have any record of them! Why would she ask them to check their records?
If someone from a school is delivering it it will be because they’ve written an address down wrong.
Monkeytapper · 21/01/2021 12:51

Why would not having a garden prevent you from putting a note on your door and leaving it there?

daisypond · 21/01/2021 12:51

Why would anyone would contact the council. What’s it to do with them?
I suspect it might a neighbour trying to help / being neighbourly. At the first lockdown, a relative of mine was left goody bags on her doorstep, much to her bafflement. She could only think it was because she and her grown-up child still living at home were both frontline workers. Never did discover who they were from.

2bazookas · 21/01/2021 12:52

Put notices on your front door and window saying " NO FOOD PARCELS please ring bell to hear why".

NerrSnerr · 21/01/2021 12:52

Also if you post a picture or description of the hamper on a local FB page someone may be able to tell you where the hamper has come from if they receive them too.

Romancer · 21/01/2021 12:54

Just accept that someone is trying to do a good deed, even if they have made a mistake.
Accept the parcel, enjoy it, in your turn do something for another family some time.

AliceinBunniland · 21/01/2021 12:54

Agree local Facebook group is a good idea

"We have received this parcel today in error. Does anyone know anything about this? Alternatively, if anyone wants it please PM me"

Or a note on the door might work.

VettiyaIruken · 21/01/2021 12:56

I agree with pp that a FB post plus a note of your door (in a clear plastic pocket so it can stay out there all week if needs be) are your best ways to get it sorted.
If you have no front garden then people who pass by will read the note, is that why you're reluctant?

BloggersBlog · 21/01/2021 12:56

Of course I have thought of a note on the door - its bloody obvious but we have no front garden

Confused what do you mean by this?

Backbee · 21/01/2021 12:57

Why would anyone would contact the council. What’s it to do with them?

Because if it's an 'official, food parcel the council coordinate them and can check it's not intended for someone else, who will be going without. If it's someone just dropping it off then OP can ignore as it doesn't mean someone who needs one and should be getting one through a scheme is missing out.

LAgeDeRaisin · 21/01/2021 12:58

Agree with PPs.

  1. Get a list of some local schools' email addresses. Email with your address and say the packages were delivered to you and do they know of a family with a similar address. They may be able to check FSM records and say 'oh look they're at 5 acacia walk which is similar to 5 acacia road where Sally and Jim live'
  2. Search the FB groups that apply to those schools, or a local FB group. Post there asking for a PM if somebody is missing a food parcel.
  3. Leave a note on your door for a week saying the address they have is incorrect and to please check their records and call the FSM parent's contact number listed for the correct address, or for directions.
daisypond · 21/01/2021 12:59

Do the council coordinate food parcels? I didn’t know that. I thought it was down to community groups, schools, churches, charities etc

Givemeabreak88 · 21/01/2021 13:03

Yes our local council were giving out food parcels to people who were shielding though, I think this sounds like someone random trying to do a good thing, I would leave the note though. I don’t understand why not having a garden means you can’t?