AIBU?
to expect people not to give ridiculous items to food bank...
MariaAngustias · 23/03/2021 13:23
I volunteer at a food bank. Everything is weighed in then weighed out for audit purposes. Whilst there are many lovely and generous people who donate to use there are some people who give such odd and weird things - out of date food, opened packets, packs of hair dye (yep, few of these at moment), medication ... and obviously this stuff cannot be given out but it has to be sorted, weighed and then disposed of. Why?!
Am I being unreasonable?
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NaturalStudy · 23/03/2021 13:27
I think most people are genuinely trying to be helpful (although opened packets are stretching it). As someone considering whether to put in some hand cream/moisturiser I won't use in the hope that someone else can use it, I can see a situation where I had some hair dye I wouldn't use and thought someone else might like it. Why can't you give out hair dye out of interest?
PrelovedWithValue · 23/03/2021 13:29
My local food bank has a table with things like that (not opened food, but out of date food, specialised food, toiletries including hair dye) that people coming to the food bank can take in addition to their food parcel, if they want it.
Could you offer something like that?
skirk64 · 23/03/2021 13:30
People probably think that out of date food is fine to give because best before dates are just that, food is still safe to use afterwards but might not be at its peak.
Also hair dye seems no more inappropriate than giving sanitary towels or shampoo. Or do food banks strictly take food only? (Genuinely don't know, I don't give to them because I don't agree that people should have to rely on them.)
EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 23/03/2021 13:30
I did a Food Bank haul out of my cupboards at the weekend. Checked all dates and binned anything out of date. Its not hard.
RE None Food Items I see a lot of these in the trollies and the logic I guess is that people may be in need of more than food.
What is acceptable, as I've always just done food because I am not sure.
Boots and Superdrug have Beauty Banks in some shops. It's Jo Jones & Sali Hughes thing.
yoyo1234 · 23/03/2021 13:33
Can understand the frustration for almost all items on that list. I was wondering about the hair dye though. Hair dye could give some one confidence ( I have lots of grey and it does upset me). It could make someone going for eg a job interview feel better potentially ( or pick them up a bit when they may need it). What about new moisturizer, hand/body cream, shampoo and conditioner etc.
PurrBox · 23/03/2021 13:37
Sad that out of date staples can't be offered as an option to needy families (with a mention of the fact that they are past their sell by date, perhaps).
When my son was volunteering with a homeless charity, they were constantly sending home with slightly out of date cornflakes and things like that, which were perfectly fine, and which we didn't need, but the charity would have had to bin them if the volunteers didn't want to take them home....
idontlikealdi · 23/03/2021 13:38
Easy way to get rid.
Anything I give to any charity is as I would like to be given. I see things about half a pack of nappies or tampons. Whoever needs that support doesn't need to be made to feel more worthless than they presumably already do by being given someone's half opened cast offs.
BashfulClam · 23/03/2021 13:39
Hair dye has a risk of allergic reaction. People on poverty can also live in a chaotic environment with a shared bathroom, limited hot water and also it might not be the right colour for a lot of people. If putting in toiletries please put in soap, shampoo, sanitary items, bog roll etc.
PrelovedWithValue · 23/03/2021 13:41
Also, it's degrading
Hope is it degrading when it's an option that people can choose, in addition to their food parcel, if they want it?
Is it really better that it goes to waste?
It's it degrading that charities pick up out of date food from supermarkets in order to create meals for the homeless? Because that happens too.
Trisolaris · 23/03/2021 13:42
If my food bank took hair dye and I had some I wasn’t going to use I’d rather give it than bin it!
In the same way I always get given loads of face masks and toiletries I won’t use for Christmas (allergies) and I know my local food bank does take those so I give them that in the hopes someone can feel a bit pampered.
Confuzzlediddled · 23/03/2021 13:42
We have locally a specific project for out of date food, unlike a food bank, anyone can go and buy a box of food, in addition they supply a lot of fruit and veg to schools, much of which is just not the right shape to be sold!
They have also done catering for events with the food!
It is specifically best before not use by.
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