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?

agree it is better to look at what they want

I had to use a food bank a few months back. There were definitely a few nice treats in there, including Easter eggs for my kids and some fancy chocolate for me. The kids went through our food bank bags like it was Christmas "TINNED PINEAPPLE?! Oh I love this!! MUM LOOK, hot chocolate!"

Pasta/uht milk/soups are wonderful and essential and useful. But the little treats people stick in can bring huge joy to a family that is struggling to find happiness at that moment, so I'm a big advocate of sticking nice things in the food bank box.

I always do a mix of practical and treats. I grew up very poor and remember obe of our neighbours buying my brother and me a little packet of sweets each week when my Dad was on the dole. We've never forgotten his kindness at a frankly awful time for my family.

Because of that I put in some decent biscuits, tea bags (I won't drink supermarket own) coffee, sugar, squash, mug shots (some are actually quite nice), tuna, pasta, ketchup, San pro, deodorant, cleaning stuff. I often shop at asda and use the rewards I build up from there to do it.

100% this. Having received help from the food bank in the past, it was a lovely treat to have a couple of non essentials in a parcel. Really lifted my spirits in an awful time

Make a cash donation. Ours has a PayPal link on their Facebook page.

I'm so glad I'm not micromanaged to this extent by my husband. It wouldn't even occur to me to discuss this with him or expect him to tell me if it is right or wrong.

the headline in our local foodbank is Money required

This with bells on.

So many well meaning people bring treat items and yes, it's thoughtful but what my food bank needs is regular money from people!
Even a £5, £10 monthly dd would be appreciated and we know exactly what our users need (or don't!)

and the following

• TINNED TOMATOES/PASTA SAUCE
• TINNED VEGETABLES (SWEETCORN, CARROTS, PEAS)
• TINNED FRUIT
• TINNED RICE PUDDING/CUSTARD
• LONGLIFE MILK
• INSTANT COFFEE/TEA BAGS (SMALL)
• TINNED TUNA
• INSTANT MASH
• TINNED MEAT (HOT DOGS, CHICKEN IN SAUCE ETC.)
• LONGLIFE APPLE OR ORANGE JUICE
• BISCUITS
• SWEETS/CHOCOLATE/CEREAL BARS
• TOMATO KETCHUP/BROWN SAUCE/MAYONNAISE
• GLUTEN FREE/VEGAN/NON DAIRY OPTIONS
• TOOTHPASTE/DEODORANT/SHOWER GEL/SHAMPOO/TOILET ROLLS

so it looks like your coffee may be better in a jar

Here’s an example of what one Foodbank is short of

I volunteer at a foodbank. Instant lattes are always appreciated, we always get loads of donations of teabags and hot chocolate, but not so much coffee. The sachets are good because you don’t need to use any of the milk you have for your drinks then.

sweet chilli sauce though - I’d agree with your husband in that one. If you’re want to spend money to help out, more basic foods or toiletries are a much better donation.

The fact you are contributing is fantastic

I would put in a jar of coffee or nice biscuits. I wouldn’t put in sweet chilli sauce as people might not have the ingredients to cook a meal or the facilities but I would put in tinned sweet and sour chicken.

Here is the link to find out what your local food bank needs

www.givefood.org.uk/needs/

Not nuts at all; a bit Dickensian, no fun for the underserving poor not to imho.

I will usually donate something like baked beans/spaghetti or packet/canned soup, but also chocolate bars and crisps and soft drink cans from my pantry at home.

I would hate to be so poor someone was judging me for wanting a packet of crisps or a bar of chocolate

I volunteer at a foodbank & whilst the basics are essential. it's always nice when some thought has been given, we love when we can pop a treat in; little sweets, biscuits, we had a donation of lots of travel hand lotion. Using a food bank doesn't mean you can't have a few nice things.

I just buy the pre made bags in Morrisons for the food bank. Saves worrying about what to buy!

I would stick to more nice basics so yes the sachets but also other nice things like fancy biscuits, coffee, nice teabags, but not things you need other things with so not the sauce

I actually look at it a different way - people using foodbanks can access the basics, leaving them some of their limited cash to buy an occasional treat of their own choosing - be it a few beers, bottle of wine or a Mac Donald’s!

Genuine question. what do people use sugar for? Only thing we use it for is on top of cereal. Or coffee I suppose but don't tend to drink that at home

sugar for my tea and coffee

I think you are very kind and generous.
I volunteer my local food bank and donations of everything are really low at the moment.... everyone feeling the pinch.
Requested staples are tins of soup, fruit, baked beans, tuna packet noodles, pasta, jars of cooking sauce, biscuits and UHT full milk. Luxuries as you suggest are very much appreciated. Everyone likes a treat. Jars of normal coffee are really appreciated scarce too.

I think pot noodles are tasty but are not at all filling or nutritious so the £ would be better spent on something else. Must be a better alternative.

It's nice to get a treat item as well as the essentials that the food bank actually lists. Sounds a great idea to me

Our local food bank usually has other drinks that can be made by just adding hot water on the list of things they want, alongside team and
coffee - so I often put in instant hot chocolate sachets in a variety of flavours. They also like getting instant noodles.

Yes, I consult list and make sure I include things that are on it. And then I add random stuff (eg second half of a BOGOF that I’m not likely to use) and yes, I add treats. Not instead of a basic donation, a little something on the top