aibu to buy instant latte for the foodbank

[painochocolate]

My DH says they'd prefer pasta and tinned goods but I like to buy three of whatever treat I'm getting for myself and put two in the foodbank. So this week it was instant latte. He thinks that's nuts. Aibu?

I suppose it depends on how well the food bank is stocked. If its in an area which struggles for donations then surely its best to give as much as possible for the money being spent, thereby helping the most people.
I used to buy extras for the collection box when I shopped but these days I give a financial donation so the food bank can purchase by need and obtain discounts for bulk purchases.

We definitely supply instant coffee as standard in our bags, and instant latte would be welcomed as a donation. Each foodbank is different through (even all those under the umbrella of the Trussell Trust).

When foodbanks ask for "small" packs e.g. of tea or coffee, how small is small. What happens if you give a "big" pack?
I feel I've read somewhere in the past that they can't use or give out "big" packets because they can't split them.
I understand TT gives 3days per 2weeks boxes on the sayso of council or social services so might have been them.

When foodbanks ask for "small" packs e.g. of tea or coffee, how small is small. What happens if you give a "big" pack?

This is a piece of string question I’m afraid! We do buy big packs and decant into brown paper bags, though not all FBs do. In general small to me would mean the smallest pack on the shelves - 40 tea bags?

I work at a Trussell Trust food bank .
40 teabags is a small for a single person. 80 for a couple and then up to 240 for a large family of 5+ people.

We only split big boxes where there are individual sealed packs inside. We can’t split boxes where the bags are loose.
We can not give out anything that is opened for obvious reasons.

It would depend on the food bank check your local one out. Where I am we open big boxes and give the teabags out in the.sigular foil packs I appreciate not all boxes come like that. Anyway look what service your local food bank has ours is a weekly community one others is Trussell trust that give emergency food packs.

You've never been in the position of needing a food bank have you? Eating and feeding their kids is a priority, not 'treats' of a latte or two

You haven't read the thread, have you? Everybody on here who's used a foodbank has said how wonderful the treats were.

Not everyone who uses a foodbank has children for starters, plenty of childfree men and women are subject to poverty in this country so perhaps don't be so ignorant. And secondly no one is saying they think foodbanks should solely dish out 'treats' have they? But have reasonably recognised people who use food banks are still regular people and alongside 'sensible' food it's nice to have treats.

You no a coffee isn't exactly a "treat" its not taking out the mouths of babes to have a 5 pack of coffee ! Foodbank staff and volunteers know how to feed people and those with children and a coffee is fine isn't it hardly a huge deal.

I agree that treats are lovely to put into the foodbank and can really cheer someone up.
When I do a food bank shop, I look for basics/ essentials and my son chooses the treats that a child may be glad to receive.

I’d rather donate what’s on their list eg pasta, cereal, tins. The essentials

Yes, I sometimes buy instant flat whites as many people would like a coffee but might not have the milk. I also buy toothpaste, tampons and peanut butter (which, in dire situations, can be eaten alone and provides important fats and protein).
I'm sure you're lattes made someone's day.

But if you only have a kettle, then hot drinks and things like instant noodles are the only hot things available to you

Tea, coffee and any type of ‘just add hot water’ beverage is welcomed as a staple/basic

*know

I think that is a lovely thing to do.
Are those who need a food banks expected to eat gruel or something?
Life is hard enough for everyone right now so the odd treat is probably highly appreciated.

the food bank where I volunteer is absolutely desperate for donations. When I started back in November, the whole 4 hours was spent sorting donations. Now it takes less than an hour.

As well as the box of food they get a carrier bag with up to three toiletries, or cleaning material. Plus a carrier bag of cereal, milk, biscuits, savouries, condiment and sweet treats. We are open from 10 to 1 and this week we ran out of most things for the carrier bags by 11.30 We were raiding stock for custard, tin fruit and pasta to fill the bags. This of course will mean less for the boxes.

When making your donation, I suggest you think about the money you are spending. If that was the only money you had, ‘what would you buy for yourself?’

a hot drink is really important, we split tea bag boxes into 40 bags and coffee into pots for enough for 10 drinks. If you are buying tins, try to get ring pull as so many people don’t have a can opener.

i think my money would go on packet soup, pot noodles, tinned fish and tinned meat. Remember not everyone know how to cook pasta even if they have the facilities.

What tinned meats are best?

I consider myself corrected 😂

Tinned Ham and corned beef are well received.

It's not osmething I would enjoy myself but that is not the issue. At Christmas I donated a lot of children's Christmas sweets. Notan essentail by any means, but hopefully something a little special for the children from parents in need.

If you are thinking about donating Christmas stuff or Easter Eggs, please check in plenty of time with the food bank for the latest date to drop it off

Because they need to sort stuff and plan allocations, and perhaps they’re only open to clients one or two days a week. So stuff for particular occasions may be most appreciated if it’s 3 weeks beforehand

a lot of people don’t know how food banks work. When you go off list and put in herbal teas, soy sauce some of the other suggestions, there is a good chance these items will be wasted. Clients don’t get to pick their items and so they might just be thrown away.

We encourage people to open their box, then if there is something that they do not want they can swap it or just return it.

if you can provide for their basic nourishment needs, it can leave them a little extra cash to choose what else they need. I don’t mean no treats, just try to think what you would want in their circumstances.

We were donated lots of Fray Bentos meat pies, the cook in the tin variety. It is easy to see why people thought they were a good thing to donate. Most of them were rejected as they take 40 minutes to cook in an oven. Fuel poverty is a big consideration for our clients.

@Middleagedspreadisreal the lists people have shared about what products food banks usually want says “instant coffee”. So what difference is it if someone donates a jar or some sachets. If you are going to be picky about it no one actually needs tea and coffee do they?

a few years before covid I had to use a food bank.
the ‘basic’ stuff, whilst doing a job, did make me feel a bit ‘Oliver’. I was very, very grateful to have a hot meal, but there was no pleasure or joy in those items. I felt like a calorie statistic.
the ‘treat’ items however (choccy biscuits, mustard, some fresh garlic) enhanced the food and therefore enhanced how I felt. It really made me think that someone ‘got it’.
I understand food banks have to be functional and are about feeding you, but adding a treat item nourishes you.
(life is much better now and I’m able to donate. FYI, the bank I donate to LOVE receiving pot noodles)