To remind people that food banks need donations

[LemonViolet]

I just saw a segment on the BBC news about food banks experiencing supply shortages. Which makes sense, given the cost of living crisis. They have more people needing the service and less people donating as everyone is tightening their belts.

I am a sporadic food bank donator. It just doesn’t occur to me that often as I don’t go into supermarkets and see the visual reminder of the collection station. But I am lucky enough that I can still afford to donate. I’ve just looked up my local food bank and they have about a third of their list of requested items marked in red as low or out of stock.

So I’m going to do my good turn today, pop to the supermarket, and drop a shop up to the local collection point tomorrow. And I thought I’d share on here and see if I can spur anyone else to do the same.

If you’re a regular donator then AMAZING
If like me you just donate once in a while then now is the time they need us, if you are able to.
If you haven’t donated before but you can spare a little, then look up your local service and see what they need. They usually have lists and instructions for donations online.

If you’re not able to donate then no guilt trip intended at all. I am worried posting this thread may be taken as being smug or boasting or patronising. I really just want to nudge others like me that can do this but just don’t think to that often.

Also, at ours, a lot goes to waste and the volunteers end up taking lots of food home.

I won't donate to the local foodbank. It is corrupt as fuck, clothes donations the two paid member of staff get first pick. Tkmaxx donated all their food stock just as first lockdown happened and they shared it all amongst staff. You can't complain to anyone yet everybody sings their praises. It's in Pembrokeshire, so if you live here we do have the trussel trust also which is completely genuine.

Right, so what do you do then if you're genuinely Vegan? Or Vegetarian? You talk about not making demands but what on earth do you do with a food parcel that contains a good majority of food you don't eat?

Yes, as mentioned, this happens where I am too - volunteers go home with huge boxes of food.

Right, so what do you do then if you're genuinely Vegan? Or Vegetarian? You talk about not making demands but what on earth do you do with a food parcel that contains a good majority of food you don't eat?

Well quite.

But when the CEV got food parcels in the first three months of shielding with little/no choice of contents and very erratic standards and suitability, any comments (no matter how temperate) were usually met with responses along the lines of 'beggars can't be choosers' and that thought pattern remains alive and well

Surely with rising food and fuel costs more and more people will need to turn to food banks? (and probably exceed those donating)
I would have hoped that they were only needed for short term periods for most, but I fear that they are a long term necessity for some people which seems to be a failing - that neither wages or benefits are enough to sustain someone's most basic needs. (I was pretty gobsmacked on here recently when a poster suggested that the cost of living crisis was caused by a rise in the minimum wage!!)
During lockdown a neighbour along our road was collecting items for a food bank she was involved with and had a list of priority items, and I put a few in my shop each week but I must admit I have got out of the habit. So I will pick up some things next time I am out.

I do and will donate. Because I have the means to do so and people shouldn’t be hungry.

But let’s not pretend this isn’t just another example of the government taking advantage of peoples goodwill to abdicate their own responsibility.

It’s not our responsibility to feed the poor. It’s not our responsibility to house Ukrainians. It’s not our responsibility to save the NHS. We need to look to the government. They are responsible.

I do and will donate. Because I have the means to do so and people shouldn’t be hungry.

But let’s not pretend this isn’t just another example of the government taking advantage of peoples goodwill to abdicate their own responsibility.

It’s not our responsibility to feed the poor. It’s not our responsibility to house Ukrainians. It’s not our responsibility to save the NHS. We need to look to the government. They are responsible.

I do and will donate. Because I have the means to do so and people shouldn’t be hungry.

But let’s not pretend this isn’t just another example of the government taking advantage of peoples goodwill to abdicate their own responsibility.

It’s not our responsibility to feed the poor. It’s not our responsibility to house Ukrainians. It’s not our responsibility to save the NHS. We need to look to the government. They are responsible.

I do and will donate. Because I have the means to do so and people shouldn’t be hungry.

But let’s not pretend this isn’t just another example of the government taking advantage of peoples goodwill to abdicate their own responsibility.

It’s not our responsibility to feed the poor. It’s not our responsibility to house Ukrainians. It’s not our responsibility to save the NHS. We need to look to the government. They are responsible.

Oh Jesus why has that posted ten times

Oh Jesus why has that posted ten times

My issue with the Ocado donations is that they go centrally, and it's my local food bank I want to support.

Every few months I just do a food shop and have it sent directly, choosing whatever they are short of at the time.

Right, so what do you do then if you're genuinely Vegan? Or Vegetarian?

you ask for them to remove meat products from your box. You don't demand special substitutes.

@lifewithsomeonespecial @nether this.
My people have been vegetarian for 100’s of years, mostly because poor farmers couldn’t afford meat anyway. I find it strange to see vegetables (which are cheaper than meat anyway) being rejected.

All things that don’t have a medical reason are ‘preferences’. There’s no reason for a specific one, like véganism to be respected over any other. Like say someone asking only for cheesecake.

@LegMeChicken Being a vegan or veggie is not the same as asking for cheesecake

I'm neither veggie nor vegan 🌱 but I completely get why someone would need a substitute or more substantial plant based items to bulk out their food parcel

I've collected a few for some people and they contain things like tinned tuna and items like that

I think donating items to food banks is a stupid model. My first choice would be to give money to people so they can buy what they need. If you don’t think poor people can be trusted then I guess there’s a place for giving food but it makes no sense for it to be donated. People who want to help can give money and then the food banks could buy what’s required.

I know people like them as there’s a warm glow imaging the destitute family eating your tin of beans but if you give it even cursory thought it’s pretty inefficient.

All things that don’t have a medical reason are ‘preferences’. There’s no reason for a specific one, like véganism to be respected over any other.

Firstly being a long term veggie/vegan changes your gut flora and having unsuitable products could cause stomach upsets. Particularly dairy products for vegans who may have lost their lactase persistence.

Secondly these are not just preferences, they are moral beliefs protected by the Equality Act, likewise eating halal or kosher.

It's worth checking on what is needed in your area.
MIL lives in a very well off town and volunteers at their foodbank - it's overwhelmed with donations however they are not far from an area with lots of need - she was just telling me in the weekend just don't have the logistics to send the food to their where it could do some good and they are struggling to send stuff out to people who need it as the supply well outstrips demand
Whereas our town never has enough. I donate every week when I do my shopping and my sons scout troop regularly volunteers at the food bank so I always find out what they need and top that up. Recent requests have been for things that can be made/heated with a kettle only.

In the days before food banks, we had soup kitchens. In Victorian times, the Big House would instruct their staff to make a nourishing soup for the poor. If you’ve read “Rebecca” and wondered, with the Narrator, who got the gift of their unwanted breakfast food, the chances are the poor were grateful recipients of at least some of it.

Disgraceful that, in this day and age, so many are still forced to beg for charity food, but I’m sure the Rees-Moggs of this world approve.