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 normally donate tinned custard/fruit/peas

YANBU. I hate this attitude that people who are struggling for whatever reason should have or want anything nice, a treat. That they should be eating what someone considers to be poor people food. It’s only one step away from the thinking behind workhouse gruel.

of course food banks need the basic stuff, we all do, but I think your idea is really good. I’m going to adopt it myself.

it really isnt hard to find out what the food banks want

I volunteer at a Foodbank (not Trussell Trust). They're all different but generally operate from a set list of items per parcel according to family size.
They'll include a mixture of essentials and things which could be perceived as treats (biscuits, crisps).
We also have a 'random' table where donations which aren't on the set list are placed for people to help themselves. Soy sauce for example would be put there.
I would actually caution against giving specific dietary items unless the Foodbank put out a request. They can often go out of date before they can be used. We would go out and buy such items as required.
Essentially, nothing is wasted and every donation will be appreciated by someone.
Cash is useful so we can ensure a stock of the standard parcel items. We wouldn't buy 'treats', except at Christmas, Easter etc.
In short, donate whatever you like. I promise you it will be welcomed.

You are lovely to be so considerate.
I wouldn't overthink it to be honest. When I have been able to, I have donated-
Tinned vegetables.
Tinned and packet soups.
Tinned custard.
Biscuits.
Shower gel.

I think you are possibly over thinking, but do t worry! Tomato sauce is a basic item to lots of families, particularly those with kids, eating bland food. I can get a list from the foodbank I volunteer at if that would help, just let me know, but you’re better checking with your local one as they will know better what’s needed in your area.

@painochocolate yes pot noodles are really useful, as are any of the add hot water pot meals. Cup soups, and instant cup porridge too. The ones without the lids that are easy to break!

There are people without any cooking facilities, or trying not to use the cooker. So microwave rice type things are also handy.

That’s unnecessary and unpleasant, the OP is trying to help understand what’s needed. If you haven’t had to use a foodbank or worked in one, lots of people would be unsure what’s best to donate.

My local one took samples too and were really pleased - I collected up everything I had that was brand new and sealed after Christmas so
Mini toothpastes
Perfume/aftershave
Moisturiser/cleanser/face masks
The matching body lotion to perfumes that I never use!
Shampoo and a hair mask from a beauty box
Cat treats that the cat wouldn't touch (new packets)

Yes it's not essential but they put them on a table for people to help themselves
Just an idea if you often get stuff like that for Christmas/birthdays/beauty boxes you don't use

If you want to add some treats (particularly with it being school holidays), then small bars of chocolate (multipacks are good as they can put a couple in a few bags), packs of biscuits, small bags of sweets, things like mini chocolate rolls, tinned sponge puddings, tins of custard.

The lists people have shared on this thread say “instant coffee”. I would class those sachet coffees (whether “latte” or types) as instant coffee.
I don’t drink coffee but if my husband puts “instant coffee” on the shopping list that’s what we get.
So @painochocolate sounds fine to me.

Mini rolls always look a bit squashef when ice seen them in the collection box

I give mine to the women's shelter

Our foodbank has a shelf of 'extras' where the clients are invited to choose something they'd like in addition to the bags of staples.

It's a nice thing to do.

Yeah I think so. Anyway I've found an app where they can tell me what they need and I can tell them I've bought some so they know its on its way.

Yes and the little shop near me doesn't have a list. The big shop has the list at the end where its all a bit of a rush to get out.

Anyway I have a list the foodbank updates now.

Thank you very much to those who have answered. I shall buy them if instant coffee is on the list otherwise I shall buy their urgent need items I think.

Treats are nice to donate ,I do a "tuck shop" from October in my staffroom at work its a great way for people to donate, sell chocolate bars crisps and cans for 50p each. This has made over £1500 over the last few years and our local foodbank is always so grateful. Especially when I get the £1 advent calendars or selection boxes ready for December.

There is something about unexpected treats that really make people's day. One of my neighbours gave me a huge box of samples and gift kits from a couple of luxury brands (Molton Brown etc) we left them out on the help yourself table and one lady with 3 teenage daughters cried as she could give them something other than the bar of soap in the parcel to wash with. I often give a few bottles of shampoo as its miserable washing your hair with soap and shampoo is not one of the things our food bank gives out.

We have quite a few single men living in hostels so things that can be made with a kettle or microwaved in a plastic bowl are popular. eg Tinned ravioli, the sort of instant lunch grain pouches, couscous (a good pasta alternative if you only have a kettle).

Bloody hell!

God forbid the foodbank clients should have something nice as well as the basic essentials.

What do you want them to have? Stale bread and gruel?

The posters being critical of op are bang out of order. She is regularly donating and is asking for guidance.

Most food banks are in need of instant coffee so op's donation is a reasonable one. Could she get more for the money? Yes. Will those treat coffee sachets brighten the day of the person who gets one? Probably.

It's similar to the brand issue - the practical thing is to buy the cheapest available products to maximise the amount you give. But for the person who gets a tin of Heinz beans or a bottle of fairy liquid, it can be a huge positive lift for them.

thank you so kind. I've found a list now. I imagine they all want similar things

Having run a food bank for a few years, yes it is really helpful when people buy what you’re low on or give you the cash to just get it yourself.

BUT people who use food banks are still people with likes and dislikes, and who enjoy a little treat on the side. We had these items kept in a side basket so after people had collected their main food they could take 2-3 extras. While it was a tiny gesture, something like this can cheer people up for 5 minutes when life is difficult.

Yes that was my "dilemma". I'll try and do a bit of both. It can't be much fun having to rely on eating the very basics.

We do a weekly shop on line, so donate monthly to Trussel, DS split up with his GF recently, no chance of reconciliation (Thank God) so I donated all the gluten free stuff I had bought for her, I hope it helped someone.

OP I (and my DH) were reliant on a foodbank for some time a few years back. The foodbank was stocked via a mixture of stuff bought by the foodbank directly through cash donations, and stuff donated via local supermarkets etc.

The foodbank itself generally bought bulk basics/value type stuff so there was always plenty of that. The stuff donated by the public tended to be a mix of similar cheap/bulk things and 'nice'/treat foods. From that you had to pick from various categories, so every week there would be plenty of own brand pasta/pulses/tinned fruit and veg/tinned fish or meat/cereal/long life milk etc, but then there would sometimes be things that really were a treat - chocolates, or biscuits, or posh cordial, or nice coffees etc.

Obviously we were massively grateful for everything we were given! And the bulk stuff really did get us through a very tough patch. But I can't tell you how lovely it was to get the odd box of Ferrero Rocher or something 😅

So in short, neither your husband nor you are wrong! But those lattes may have made someone very happy and feel a little bit more 'normal' for a while. Now that we are far more comfortable I do a mix - donate cash monthly so that the foodbank can stock up on things they really need that will keep people alive/healthy, and then treat stuff to go into the Tesco foodbank donation point - similar to you, if I'm treating myself to something I get the same again for the foodbank!