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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:
Plumsforjam · 21/01/2021 13:50

First lockdown I got a random parcel of bubbles and garden sporting toys - it came from the local football club’s community development team. Not sure why we were chosen but I passed some of the less age appropriate toys onto younger family. It was a nice gesture but not needed. At least it came with paperwork so I knew who it had came from. I wouldn’t eat unexpected fresh food at the door nor would I pass It on. Have your children attended any holiday clubs, sports clubs or church groups? I totally understand the reluctance about putting a note on the door if you’ve not got a front garden - anyone could have a nosy at the note as they walk past.

Sh05 · 21/01/2021 13:54

Are you near a local church or mosque or similar religious organization?
In the last lockdown I know of many families young and old who received food parcels from religious organizations but they did have a little printed card in them.
At the local mosque it was the elders who made a list of young families or pensioners who might struggle so they made up parcels and dropped them off.

Changemaname1 · 21/01/2021 13:55

Local schools ?
Facebook?
Note on door ?

shrunkenhead · 21/01/2021 13:58

Maybe just some kind people noticed you had kids and wanted to do something kind. Perhaps they thought you were off grid and might not be getting any help from school attending families etc
If it bothers you then check on your village fbk page or leave a note on door saying "thanks, but no thanks" or try to catch them in the act and talk to them.

AryaStarkWolf · 21/01/2021 13:58

Thanks for this - won't bother asking advice again. I have no knowledge of why people post rude comments on Mumsnet without just scrolling by.

Ignore the thread police

Mittens030869 · 21/01/2021 14:04

* Thanks for this - won't bother asking advice again. I have no knowledge of why people post rude comments on Mumsnet without just scrolling by.*

Please don’t let the professional keyboard warriors get to you, there are one or two of those on most AIBU threads.

mummax3 · 21/01/2021 14:05

Have you called the school to see if they have you down for free school meals by accident? xx

Staffy1 · 21/01/2021 14:11

Pût a note on your door saying whoever is delivering the food parcels has the wrong address.

fuzzyduck1 · 21/01/2021 14:12

Put a bear trap at your front door see if you can catch the perpetrators in the act! Sounds like the lamest attempt of fly tipping I’ve ever heard of.

Butchyrestingface · 21/01/2021 14:14

Maybe try a note in the window? Smile

MaelyssQ · 21/01/2021 14:18

It's probably some kindhearted soul who mistakenly thinks they are helping you out.

My DH and I are in our 60's - both still working full-time and fit and healthy - and we received a goody bag of assorted groceries from the local church at the start of the first lockdown. There was a card with the bag though. We rang them and said we weren't in need but what a lovely gesture it was. We were directed to their foodbank to drop the stuff off. Nothing was perishable though, it was packets and tins.

Lovemusic33 · 21/01/2021 14:20

@daisypond

Do the council coordinate food parcels? I didn’t know that. I thought it was down to community groups, schools, churches, charities etc
Why would charities do it? School meals are paid for by the government (there’s been enough about it in the news), the council give details to companies that supply the parcels so the council will know who receives them.

Sticking a letter on the door is probably the best thing to do.

Blondeshavemorefun · 21/01/2021 14:25

Why does no garden mean you can’t put a note on the door

Backbee · 21/01/2021 14:30

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

Yes. A lot of the time volunteers deliver etc, but the admin and identifying side is done largely by councils.

Bluntness100 · 21/01/2021 14:34

Just put a note on Facebook and email local schools

Bluntness100 · 21/01/2021 14:35

I also don’t know why having no front garden means you can’t put a note on your door saying “ please do not leave food parcel, you have the wrong address”

contrmary · 21/01/2021 14:42

Just bin it. Not worth the hassle of finding out who it was meant to go to. Ideally put up a CCTV camera and try to catch them in the act if they do it again.

ekidmxcl · 21/01/2021 14:45

I think you could try a note saying:

Please do not leave food parcels at this address - they are being delivered in error and need to go to someone else.

It would be fine for that to stay on your door for a couple of weeks even if it opens into the street. Just do a DIY lamination with several lengths of sellotape.

Slub · 21/01/2021 14:57

If you don't want to eat it put the cheese and apples out for the birds.

1forAll74 · 21/01/2021 15:19

Have you asked any neighbours if they might have seen a food parcel drop off being made, especially as you have had two now. Some people in close together houses notice these things.

froggydoggy · 21/01/2021 15:27

@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
Not helpful.
BlueGreenDreams · 21/01/2021 15:36

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

Would that be an official food parcel though. Even the shitty pathetic examples on the news last week were better than that. Really weird if it was that there would be no company address on it and just be dumped on the doorstep. Do people in need really only deserve to have random bits of crap dumped on the floor outside their door. I mean why not just feed hungry disadvantaged kids out of a sodding trough full of swill in the middle of the street (please recongnise the sarcasm, I don't think that)

Nanny0gg · 21/01/2021 15:37

@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
Did it really cause you great pain that the OP asked a perfectly civil question?
Offskki · 21/01/2021 15:44

Don't know what the vote is for - i did not mean that to be there

It's because this is the AIBU forum. The vote allows people to answer your question that either, Yes, YABU or No, YANBU.

Comefromaway · 21/01/2021 15:49

@ZeroFuchsGiven

Why didn't You contact the school when it first happened?
How would the OP know which school to contact. Where I live there are 9 different schools within 20 mins walking distance.