Food banks

[Parker231]

www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-food/

Posted in AIBU for traffic.

I’m a volunteer at a local foodbank. We are getting desperately short of donations and run the risk of not being able to help those who need it.
I’ve attached the link to search for what your local foodbank needs (everyone is different as to what stocks they have). If you are doing your shopping tomorrow, it would be very helpful if you could add a couple of items for the foodbank. Thank you

@ILoveAllRainbowsx

I wish Tesco would let you donate to a local food bank when you check out online, but I will make a cash donation now.

I think you can search ‘donation’ and add one into your basket. I’m sure I’ve seen the option in my recommend items before. Just tried to double check on the app but it is down for maintenance at the mo.

Just checked and my local one just says "bags for life"

@EileenGC I have pm’d you.

I also volunteer for a Trussell Trust FRANCHISED foodbank (they are all franchised). And would say if the set up worries you get to know your local foodbank - Trussell supported or otherwise - and then make up your mind. The Trussell franchise provides us with a network of foodbanks we can share food with as donations are never even, management support for our senior staff as most foodbanks have 1 or 2 paid staff and are managed by a group of trustees, our insurance and other support such as safeguarding, IT etc. For this is is very effective. There is no religion of any sort forced down stream in our area. Clients are not asked let alone required to part of any religion.

In terms of what is required..

OFTERN SHORT:
TINNED MEAT / FISH
RICE PUDDING
SPONGE PUDDING /CHRISTMAD PUDDING
LONG LIFE JUICE
UHT MILK
TEA / COFFEE
Dried milk

Also needed: Tinned tomatoes, tinned veg, pasta sauce, custard, squash, cereal, rice, biscuits, snacks, chocolate, jam (not homemade)

We usually have enough soup, pasta and baked beans... but do ask...

We also use: Shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, kids bath bubbles, deodorant

Laundry powder/tabs/liquid, cleaning sprays, (not bleach) washing up liquid,

Nappies and wipes

Many banks are now running short of carrier bags too.

Trussel trust doesn't include sugar on their lists for health reasons.

However food banks always get asked for sugar by their users.

I have volunteered for some time and have never heard anyone mention religion.
See list up above for food items needed. I would also say skip soup and baked beans as we have loads of them.

@mumda

Trussel trust doesn't include sugar on their lists for health reasons.

However food banks always get asked for sugar by their users.

But the list for my local foodbank includes treats and chocolates? Fair enough , treats are good occasionally.

I've added a few items to donate to my shopping list and will buy several but I question whether some of the things there are necessary. Like jam and pet food.

Jam is listed as it a nice treat and many foodbank visitors have pets needing food as much as their owners.

Parrot food was on my pick list last week.

@Parker231

Jam is listed as it a nice treat and many foodbank visitors have pets needing food as much as their owners.

Ah ok. I was wondering why it was Jam and not any sort of spread if it was just a treat. I presumed that it was there as a necessity. Chocolates are on my list.

Pet food - fair enough if people choose to donate.
But I disagree with cash donations being used to feed cats and dogs over buying necessities for humans.
That's just my opinion and is why I was put off from donating cash but to each his own.

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Parrot food was on my pick list last week.

What's a pick list?

Thank you for the reminder. Does Foodbank prefer cash or food donations?

The list of food I pack up for each voucher/recipient.

Aye. Let them cats and dogs starve.

Bastard animals.

Thanks for the reminder. I'm doing my weekly shop tomorrow and will get a few extra bits for the food bank

I donate to my local village salvation army food bank (who distribute over the whole county). They ask for tinned meats and pies etc and I always donate stuff that only requires a kettle such as packet pasta and porridge, coffee and hot choc sachets, as well as cake and custard that requires no heating.

disagree with cash donations being used to feed cats and dogs over buying necessities for humans.

Many many families and individuals have long term pets prior to getting ill or losing their job or whatever other difficult life circumstance leads them to harder times.

Also, pets can offer invaluable mental and physical health benefits.

I happily donate for both humans and animals.

Not that there should be any need for food banks in the first place.

Jam you can put on dry toast without butter and keep it out the fridge if needed
I do a shop every so often and think what would I want if I didn't have energy/time/facilities to cook and what would be a nice treat
Over lockdown I couldn't get a food delivery for 6 weeks and a local pub sent a food box, the chocolate biscuits were incredibly welcome!

I've donated everything from toothpaste to shower gel to noodle pots to advent calendars
After Christmas they often reduce Christmas chocolates like the Cadbury's gift type ones where you get about 7 bars so I buy those too as they can be split up

Dry herbs, spices, & salt & pepper are useful.

Also a volunteer at a Trussell Trust foodbank & religion has never come up. We often provide food/toiletries for those fleeing domestic abuse, many with young children, lots of people who tread the breadline & have one extra bill or unexpected necessary expense tip them over the edge to not be able to buy food. Veterans, disabled, unwell, unemployed, unlucky, there is zero discrimination on who can receive a parcel - imagine we started to say, oh sorry wrong religion, no parcel for you! The organisation does a lot of good and helps a LOT of people (individuals, families, and children), that should be the priority, even though it's shameful that our country has so many people living in food poverty.

By the way if donating, nothing with any alcohol in - keep that in mind if you send in any Xmas goodies - but basically anything long-life, tinned or dried as well as tea/coffee, squash, toiletries etc will be very much appreciated.

I think that online order idea to donate is a brilliant idea, others should suggest them too (Tesco are pretty good tho, at least around here they make a matching donation for every kilo donated when they have the donation bins in the shop. Not sure if those are universally back yet tho.)

What a lovely reminder!

I have never had a religious conversation when volunteering

Re pet food, we have a fussy cat and took loads of rejected wet food pouches to the local food bank. They were unopened but not boxed (she had decided to eat three of the four flavours in a box for quite some time) so we weren’t sure if they would want them, but the staff/volunteers were delighted. The woman I spoke to said often people - particularly elderly folk living alone - will go without themselves to feed their pets. (Who as pp pointed out were probably around prior to a change in circumstance.)

The local one to us is always full this time of year (just after harvest festival in local schools and churches) and dont have space for anything other than a few specific Christmas items usually until after Christmas. I'm surprised other food banks haven't just had huge donations too.

disabled, unwell

I wondered about the housebound and those with mobility issues (and Covid isolaters). I just looked at my local food bank's website and they can't guarantee delivery.