Anyone else noticed how low the food bank boxes are in shops these days.

[12yearsinazkaban]

I can't afford to donate, especially not now. But I do have a few bits in the cupboard that my parents gave me that we just won't eat. Would it be okay for me to bring them in my next shop and drop them off?

I have never thought about it before, the donation points I the shops always seemed full or overflowing. Since March even, the boxes have been empty and nobody puts anything in the pets one for the local cats or dogs home.

Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me?
I live in a low income council estate and sometimes shop in the more expensive area and both areas shops have the same. This includes a lidl and a sainsburies, so a cheaper shop and a more expensive one. It is quite worrying.

I wonder what people are going to do?

Ours was overflowing last week and we donated 4 tins.

And yes, it's fine to take things from home that are in date. We've done that before.

Local Sainsbury's ones are pretty full every time I add something. No idea how frequently they are emptied though.

Yes. Our local bins are really low. We are relying more on direct donations from shops and our cash reserves.

We are also getting a lot more referrals and hopeful walk ins, none of whom get turned away, we signpost everyone to as much support as we can.

We are currently fully stocked and can manage for a while without new donations, but not for long. So we are looking more and more to local businesses, local authorities and other funding streams to fill the gaps. Same as every other community charity.

Yes I noticed in my Waitrose it was completely empty. I bought some things to put in. My DH says it's not the best place to buy basics (in truth we only buy eggs and some veg and some other non essentials there) but surely most Waitrose customers would appreciate the convenience?

www.google.com/amp/s/www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/cost-living-crisis-laid-bare-26778666.amp

Like what the actual fuck. What kind of society are we living in?

We were in central London yesterday and 2 full bags of shopping from Lidl (but in Waitrose bags). We stopped at Caffe Nero for a coffee, my DH observed a guy who was walking toward the groceries while my DH was occupied as if he wanted to snatch them and run away! He ran away as my DH turned around.

Are we at the point people are going to snatch groceries????

I had wondered about this. My nearest supermarket is Asda and the food bank trolley is right by the exit doors. The security guy is actually inside the store and has his back to the food bank trolley. I've always wondered whether people just walk off with things.

Not in our Sainsbury's. However, I always forget, as it's at the end of my shop, that I see the collection point. I wish there was a sign at the front of the store, or even in the baskets/trolleys!

I am glad to heat that. I might ask my parents if they have anything unopened. My siblings have moved out recently and they ate a lot of vegan food that they left. perhaps they can give that.

I am worried about crime too. I just hope the thieves go for the shops and not homes.

I was thinking about starting a vegetable garden in the front garden but am a little bit worried about the food being stolen to be honest.

I spoke to a couple of neighbours last year who spoke about having to use a food bank and a local one had an open day where you didn't need to be referred you could just take what you liked. I thought it was a good idea for the people who fall through the cracks, but I doubt they are coping well with all the extra people needing help.

@SquirrelFan download BankTheFood app. You can set it to ping when you go in a shop to tell you what’s on your local food banks list. I’ve been using it since I saw it recommended on a previous thread here.

Do you typically visit at the same time/day?

Could just be it's being emptied say the night before you usually visit and so it looks low when you visit

It may get to the point where you're extra on guard loading up the car with shopping. Or we'll see home shopping vans getting done over like parcel delivery couriers do on occasion. When life and the price rises really start to bite, it's human nature to just take to survive.

Things won't get that bad will it.

i hope not. I don't have a car so I walk with the children holding some, me holding some and the pram holding some. easy target I suppose.

I am worried to be honest, we live in a rough area already with lots of cars stolen and burnt, lots of dogs stolen and loads and loads of burglaries.

I was always forgetting too. So I set up a monthly direct debit with the Trussell Trust - they also get gift aid on my donation - and I can shop with a clear conscience.

Some supermarkets will object to food not purchased in their shop being put in their collection points. This is because they have an arrangement to add a certain percentage of extra goods according to the weight of the goods collected .

@desiringonlychild2022 cheese and coffee has had security tags in my local shop for (I reckon) about the last ten years
Coffee is actually behind the counter, you have to ask for it

People who steal food from supermarkets, particularly items like cheese, meat, coffee, booze etc, are more likely to be stealing to feed their habit than to feed their children.

They seem as normal. As I said on the other food bank thread, I don't know why the stores don't put a big list at the entrance to remind people what's needed. They do that at my local Waitrose, which is manned, so I always remember to buy a few things. I usually forget at Tesco as there's just a bin at the exit.

It's probably fine to put things in from home, but don't just palm off things that are totally unsuitable. My mum runs a food bank, and says they often have to deal with things they can't give out - anything with alcohol in it and anything out of date are big no-nos. As are opened packets of things.

It's a PITA for the food bank volunteers to have to sort through/deal with those things on top of what they already need to do.

I hadn't heard of this so will look into it - thank you!

I agree with @QuietlyWonderful that a monetary donation is a good thing (but you can always ask your local food bank if they need specific items eg sanitary protection). Our local food bank has also been supporting people struggling with fuel bills/transport costs so a monetary donation helps with these.

We also need to address the reasons behind why people are struggling - why people have to rely on food banks and why people can't heat their DCs' bedrooms. Writing to local MPs (especially Tory MPs) and getting involved with lobbying groups is a good idea?

The situation is fucking appalling. My DH earns minimum wage working short shifts for a number of jobs/workplaces (no alternative for complicated reasons) - the fuel costs mean he sometimes can't pick up extra shifts he is offered as we would make a loss as the fuel costs would outweigh his wages.

Ours was overflowing and 2 trolleys nearby were over-run with tins, packets etc.
Are you sure donations aren't up and they're having to collect more frequently?

I always forget to buy anything as the bin is at the end. I have set up a regular donation instead as it's easier. I notice the collection point at Lidl is near me is often empty but at Tesco's it's often overflowing. I assume it's just related to how often it's collected.

It was overflowing in Tesco earlier. Tbh I don't think people should be relying on food banks long term, there has to be personal responsibility to be self sufficient. I say that as a single parent who works full time.

My work deal with claiming benefits and there has been a marked increase in people who had previously managed to get by on their low income but are now no longer able to make ends meet. These are the new attendees for the local food banks as they try to adjust to their new normal . If you are disabled ,unable to work but havent qualified for LCWRA you are stuck with a very low income and unable to do anything about it yourself. In these circumstances thank goodness for foodbanks.
DD worked for a low price frozen food store and their main targets for theft were Dow egberts coffee and legs of lamb- for selling on not consumption. They had very little 'normal' shoplifting but loads of regulars who would come in with big coats on in the middle of summer and act astonished that they were followed round the shop. Never seemed to occur to them that the staff knew who they were and why they were there.