Food bank donations

[Shazzatastic]

Just wondering what others think. I usually add a few bits to the supermarket's food bank collection (the other day I added about about two dozen items as very worried about those who are going without)

Yesterday, one of the news programs featured a food bank and interviewed a lady, but as she went to leave the food bank she had a super full trolley load of supplies. I am aware she may have six kids and it may have to last a while. But it looked excessive to me. Am I wrong in my thinking

I remember about a dozen years ago, struggling financially, what I could afford for the week wouldn't even fill a basket. At the time I tried to make it a sort of game with my daughter, let's see how cheap we can be this week (novelty to start with but does wear thin)

Also when choosing items to add to the foodbank trolley, I wonder whether to buy 2 of the smart price items instead of 1 regular item. I feel mean buying smartprice to donate but figure I can buy twice as many items and perhaps help twice as many

Just wondering what others think

I am sure that the food bank staff will have made sure that she only took what she needed and was entitled to.

Yes, you’re wrong in your thinking to base your feelings about food bank procedures and their users on the strength on one person that you don’t even know.

On the smart price item, why not ask your local food bank which they prefer, if you can’t decide?

Actually what I hadn't considered was that maybe she was collecting extra for an elderly or poorly neighbour or relative

I did ask the foodbank staff a few weeks ago, as they were doing a bit of a drive, but they said entirely my choice

Thanks for responses, appreciated x

I eat smart price items so that is what I also donate.

When I donate, I usually do the smart price version as long as it would be something I would be happy with. I spent many years desperate to feed my child and I use what I did then as my barometer. Some cheap things I personally think are very poor so I up the quality on those but I try and balance with quantity and quality.

There is some things smart price that I don't think are a problem. Like baked beans, tuna, tinned tomatoes, rice, biscuits. But other things I think are rubbish like curry sauce or tomato pasta sauce I would buy the normal shop brand instead of smart price because the difference really is very noticeable.

My measurement is whether I would use it at home or not. Although I am not in the position to donate to FB right now but when I have in The past I have donated money not food, because a few years ago when I was in a bad situation myself and needed to use FB due to fleeing domestic violence, the FB bought items in for my kids due to allergies. So if you can't decide on which brand to buy, make a cash donation (however small).

Some necessary supplies take up more space than others. Toilet paper and nappies for example. Bread takes up more space than flour. And some people need more food than others - teenagers eat much more than toddlers. A big trolley full of food is not shocking for a weekly or biweekly shop for a large family including older children or adolescents.

OMFG. Your generous gift comes with strings does it?

Well done you, OP, for virtue signalling about how you don't want these poor creatures to go without then PUT ALL THAT BACK , LADY. YOU IS TOO GREEDY.

I think you should only donate brands you would eat yourself.
So if you won't eat value beans because they aren't nice then don't donate them.

Don't donate again with an attitude like that.

Maybe people can afford to donate to food banks because they’re donating cheaper food. Not everyone can afford to give away more expensive items.

It would take approximately 64 tins of baked beans to feed 4 people 2000 calories for 3 days so I can see how a trolley might get pretty full!

I donate through ocado. They match the donation and the good bank choose what they want.

This is exactly what I do. If I wouldn’t eat it, I wouldn’t expect others to.

To access the food bank you are given vouchers, based on your need I presume, so you can't just walk in and take what you want.

The Tesco food bank container near me tells you what they are in need of, so each week I look at that and shop for those things.
I buy the value stuff so I can get more for my money.
Although I'm now comfortable I still remember adding up the cost of things as I went around the supermarket so I knew I had enough at the till. I try to pay it forward and don't think about who may be on the receiving end. 🤨

And when I donate, I usually do a decent shop at Lidl or Aldi where food is a lot cheaper and I can get more for my money, rather than buying the value option at another supermarket. I shop at Aldi or Lidl myself regularly so they are items I would be happy to use myself.

Is it more preferable to give someone the bare minimum and therefore make it an additional chore to go back every few days?

Im sure the foodbank staff aren’t just letting everyone and anyone swan in and fill a trolly supermarket sweep style just for fun.

It isn’t entirely unreasonable to value shop so more can be helped, unless it’s bottom of the barrel quality food. I agree with the above that if you wouldn’t want it to eat it, don’t donate it to others. It’s also nice to donate nice things so it isn’t all value basics. Those struggling should be able to have a treat every so often too.

Some food banks work differently to others - the one where I used to live delivered to the people who needed it (they got referrals from SS, HVs etc) as they didn't have space/facilities for people to come to them. The volunteers pre packed bags depending on things like size of family, age of children (eg for nappies, toothbrushes), allergies, access to cooking facilities. And would try and include some 'nice' or seasonal stuff as well as the basics as part of that eg biscuits or Easter eggs and some fresh stuff as well as tinned.

The church I go to now runs a weekly 'larder' where they pay an annual subscription to Fareshare for surplus food, it gets delivered for distribution, along with donations from individuals. Then once a week anyone can come, queue up and take home what they need, no questions asked. They pay £5 each for this, although this is waived when it really can't be afforded, but they can get a lot for £5. The £5 then go towards paying the annual Fareshare subscription.

Yes if you donate through Ocado on an online shop they match your donation so food bank gets double. Also you don't have to worry about what to get as food bank chooses what it needs.

Foodbank staff here - for a Trussel Trust franchise Foodbank.

A parcel for 4 people would contain (from memory I havent got the list with me but I've packed LOTS!)

1 x large Cereal
2 x Soup
2 x Beans/Spaghetti in sacue
2 x Tomatoes/Pasta sauce
4 x tinned vegetables
4 x tinned meat / veggie equivalent
2 x Tinned fish
2 x tinned fruit
2 x rice pudding / custard
1 x sponge pudding (or christmas pudding)
1 x biscuits (be that a plain rich tea or a christmas selection!)
1 large (~1kg) pasta/rice/noodles
1 tea/coffee (smaller packs/jars appreciated!)
1 litre long life juice
1 litre uht milk
1 jar jam
jar/packet sauces
chocolate/crisps/snacks (which include christmas selections/eager eggs or whatever comes in)
1 x milk powder (not baby milk) if we have it.

The idea is it will feed the persons household/family for 3 days

In addition we will add any of the following if needed and we have them:

Cleaning spray / anti bac spray / disinfectant cleaner (Flash, CIF and the likes)
cloths/scourers
washing up liquid
laundry liquid

Shampoo
shower gel / soap
tooth brushes / toothpaste
(all above for men/women and kids)
deodorant
handwash
hand sanitiser
disposable masks
san pro (we get given loads and asked for very little)
nappies
toilet rolls

This lot is always very subject to availability - sometimes we have loads and folks can have what they need. Sometimes there is little and folks are asked to choose up to 3 items.

What you might also be seeing is many foodbanks have got good at extracting supermarket leftovers and stuff from fareshare so if you see anything fresh in those baskets fruit/veg/bread it is likely it has been delivered that day and the foodbank staff need to get rid of it as they usually have no storage so it is a bit of a free for all.

Foodbanks and their parcels are the thing of myths and legend. Someone alwyas knows someone who has got a whole shop, and someone who was turned away even though they were deperate and they say the local millionaire getting their shop in ahead. Foodbanks should not be needed in this country but they are and they rely on donations from those who can to survive.

In terms of smart price or otherwise - to me as a packer a tin of beans is a tin of beans - these days I don't have the time to look what brand they are. If asked I would generally say buy what you would buy for your family. The reason behind this is yes smart price fills bellies and I would rather 2 tins of beans than 1 fancy one. But think of it as a recipent - something nice in your parcel can lift your day. There is no right or wrong here. If you look at your local foodbank web page or the notice on the collection point they will tell you what they are in urgent need of - and in that case quantity wins. However if you always buy beans for the foodbank then buy what you buy. It all gets eaten!

I'm a referrer to the Trussel Trust and to some local food banks, on behalf of some of the people my organisation supports. So I can confirm what @LittleOwl153 says (not that she needs me to!). Our service users are always very appreciative of the food help they get, but of course it does vary according to availability, and sometimes the amount they get is not as much as we would hope (they don't complain, but as the referrer I've occasionally been disappointed for them).

The trolley load could have been going to a homeless shelter or similar.

Thank you @LittleOwl153 for all the insight.

I have a direct debit to the local food bank as I assume that you can get more for the money by buying direct, and you can get exactly what you need.

But would you rather I spent the same in the supermarket and put it in the collection point?

I'll do whatever works best for food banks!

I feel mean buying smartprice to donate
I would buy smart price of some things - tinned veg, beans, pasta etc are all basically the same. Anything with meat in such as tinned meats, ready meals, I would probably avoid smartprice as the quality is lower.

In my opinion, if you give to charity it’s unconditional. So you donate and let the charity decide how best to distribute donations. If you feel regretful, suspicious or bitter about your donation then do not donate again.

People who visit food banks don’t owe random people, including those who donate to them, an explanation. I doubt they even have to disclose any details other than how many people live with them and dietary requirements to those who work there.