to expect people not to give ridiculous items to food bank...

[MariaAngustias]

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there are many lovely and generous people who donate to use there are some people who give such odd and weird things - out of date food, opened packets, packs of hair dye (yep, few of these at moment), medication ...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?!

[Lulemma]

We have a site in Stockport on fb called skthrift and you can give away items you no longer need or want. I picked up some hair dye from a lady and was very grateful for it. One man's trash is another man's treasure as the saying goes.

[Ddot]

Some charity shops take rags (knackered clothes) to sell. As far as I know they get chewed up yo make something or other. U just put in bag and mark it rags. Thought I'd mention as a few have said its out of order to donate. Hair dye mmmm not sure but if I needed one I'd be grateful. When I was skint I bought whatever shade was closest to what I liked, that was on offer. I like the idea of putting on table to help yourself.

[ColdTattyWaitingForSummer]

Someone asked upthread about washing tabs etc.. we could give out things like a small box of powder, but I’m pretty sure we couldn’t split things like a big box of liquitabs or pods into smaller numbers, because of health and safety. The original boxes have all the proper warnings on, and the safety lids to stop kids getting at them. If we gave them out without and someone got hurt we could be liable. Even with powder, I think it would need original packaging.. we already gave out sugar in small bags, so you can see the dangers if someone got the two mixed up. Bottles of washing up liquid were appreciated though, or cleaning wipes / spray.

[IrmaFayLear]

I suppose it is a bit difficult for food bank when they have donations from unwanted bits of artisan hampers, eg marron glacé (ugh) or stuffed wild boar testicle etc etc. I know many people (not even elderly)
who would even think something like hummus is too way out.

Reminds me of when fil was in the navy in the war and his boat was torpedoed and they were saved and put ashore at a US naval base. Laid out were unimaginable riches for the Brits - tables of giant steaks and all the trimmings. Fil said he was dismayed that so many of his compatriots moaned “I’m not eating that muck - I want a nice cuppa and bacon and eggs.”

[Upamountain43]

I shaved my head at the beginning of lockdown and have decided to remain with a shaved head - i had a number of hair dyes and gave them to the food bank who were really grateful for them.

having dyed hair growing out is a huge embarrassment for many people and especially if they are going for job interview.

It might not be their first choice of colour but for many its a godsend,.

[Unescorted]

I run the stores for a very small food bank in an area that has huge inequality. It is Nigella vs Local Cafe so the donations do not always marry up with what people want to eat. We run a delivery only system as it is a rural area where people rather go hungry than be seen to be using the foodbank. So when we get a call the delivery driver picks the goods off the shelf as if in a shop, while the person is on the phone. They are given the choice of what we have in stock - we are in the happy position of having more donations than need atm.

I find people even with the choice of having something nice & unusual don't want to take the risk of using precious energy in case they don't like it. Given the choice they will go for the things they know. Even if we send them out as an extra they come back to me (I write the BBE & check the item is not subject to a FSA recall for everything for stock control)

When I get too much of an item (currently - beans, soup, pasta, pasta sauce, spaghetti hoops, vegetable chilli, rice in sachets) I put notices up for the drivers to say it needs to be shifted. If it is still an issue I send it to other foodbanks around and about if they can use it, if it is opened, gone past it's BB date, random item from a hamper / impulse holiday buy it goes to our local pantry. The Pantry / other foodbank boxes are taken by one of the drivers to the pantry twice a week.

All the checking and diverting takes time, but I recognise that the act of giving is beneficial to the donor if only to avoid being the sole child who hasn't put a tin in the Harvest Festival box then so be it. It breaks my heart when I get an item in from the Harvest Festival boxes from shcools with my writing on the top. I don't know the circumstances / reason for the donation so I don't judge - I just deal with it.

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I give to our local foodbank and try to think.of things that are easy to cook (so cheaper on electricity costs) and filling. So, tinned frankfurters, tinned veg, Packets of microwave rice, tins of chicken in white sauce etc.

I also put in stuff like washing up liquid, laundry capsules as I figure they are expensive. But maybe I need to check with the FB as its never occurred to me that they might not be acceptable.

[ohcarolina2001]

Thanks @PrelovedWithValue - all good suggestions!

[PrelovedWithValue]

Would brand new unexpired pregnancy tests be useful in a food bank? I have lots that I don’t need and figure they are expensive to buy so might be useful there? Genuinely don’t know though!

I think you'd need to speak to your local food bank.
We can tell from this thread that different food banks use different guidelines. But if not, you could freecycle them or put them on olio, which is an app designed for giving stuff away free.

[Ragwort]

Season you would be surprised how few people actually read the notices about what donations are useful ..... I think all of us involved in running FBs just get used to the fact that our most popular donations are pasta, baked beans and porridge oats! We frequently contact local FBs to see if we can 'share' donations but we all have excessive quantities of exactly the same thing!

[ohcarolina2001]

Would brand new unexpired pregnancy tests be useful in a food bank? I have lots that I don’t need and figure they are expensive to buy so might be useful there? Genuinely don’t know though!

[MariaAngustias]

@MRSGGG our food bank would dispose of any opened packets so no they would not use them they would be thrown away.

[Lochmorlich]

I put childrens toothbrushes and toothpaste in once and got some looks from the woman who happened to be sorting the trolley out.
Seemed like a useful contribution to me.
I did put food in as well.

[EnoughnowIthink]

I had one man complain that he didn't get enough dog food and he had 5 dogs. Also wanted a donation to pay his vets bill. Dont think he took kindly to me telling him perhaps he shouldn't have 5 dogs lol

Lol? You work with people who have fallen on hard times and lol?

[DreamingofDalyan]

As someone who works with the unemployed these are a few of the things that madden me. I should say firstly that I have nothing against genuine need and I can usually weed out the ones that are taking the pass just like the ones who have no interest of ever working.
I get annoyed at the ones who think that the food bank is an added perk of benefits and have said free groceries excellent.
I have had someone bring their foodbank donation in and dump on my desk to say how shit the quality was and to suggest what meals they could make.
I ve had people who sign up with different names and drive around a few picking up groceries like a big Christmas shop.
I had one man complain that he didn't get enough dog food and he had 5 dogs. Also wanted a donation to pay his vets bill. Dont think he took kindly to me telling him perhaps he shouldn't have 5 dogs lol

[TinselTinsel]

I don't see the issue with hair dye. If I was in a bad spot and needed to use a food bank then I sure as hell wouldn't be able to afford hair dye and I'd be glad of it!

[Lalliella]

@skirk64

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.)

You do realise that not giving to food banks because you don’t agree people have to rely on them won’t make the problem go away don’t you?

[Embroideredstars]

@PattyPan

I can see where you are coming from and voted yanbu but for example I have two open packs of sanitary towels (individually wrapped inside) which I won’t use but don’t want to just bin. They could come in useful for someone but I don’t think they would be acceptable as a donation because the packet is open so I’m not really sure what to do with them. My local women’s refuge only has info about donating money rather than items so don’t think that is an option.

At my work we have a basket of bits like this people can help themselves to if run short.

[winniestone37]

My Mum is elderly and genuinely thought it was fine to give an open pack of biscuits. She’s not stupid just from a different time. It must be frustrating for you but it might be one of those times where you suspend your judgement.

[Gingernaut]

I worked for an absolute narcissist, who paid lip service to charitable events.

When a local food bank put out an appeal for collection, she offered to host one of the boxes in our department.

We were not surprised to learn she'd donated the remnants of a variety of packets from different, very low calorie diets.

Just that, individual sachets from larger packs of soup, shakes and ready meals.

We were mortified.

We were also left with a box to fill every week for the collection, which she never bothered with again.

[Lovemusic33]

I don’t see the issue with hair dye, if I was totally skint I would be pretty pleased to pick up a hair dye from the food bank, I hate when my grey hairs starts taking over and I’m not too fussy what colour I dye it as long as the grey is covered 🤣

[Bunnyfuller]

Out of date is mainly a marketing tool. Best before is 100% marketing. Trust me, your 5 year old revolting spaghetti hoops will be fine pretty much forever as there’s nothing natural left

[Mothership4two]

Have spent many an hour over the years checking through primary school donations for fetes, tombolas, etc. for out of date stuff and always got quite a trawl that had to be ditched

[Bananaman123]

our food bank takes toiletries, not sure about hair dye but i think that woukd be something people may want. Can you partner with shelter or a beauty bank so it doesnt go to waste?

[Notnownotneverever]

I don't know exactly how the collection process works but could you not put out the hair dye for people to just take if they liked the look of it. It could be exactly what they want. Of course, it isn't practical for you to go looking for colours, etc but to have it there to help yourself to would be ok wouldn't it?

Out of date food and opened packets is just rude and insulting. People just don't think.