To think food banks aren’t fit for purpose

[ForFirmBiscuit]

I don’t need to use a food bank but when I did they gave me tins of soup, a small tin of meat pie, a litre of UHT and a small bag of oats, nothing fresh. I didn’t get much and I was really hungry as there wasn’t enough calories and it was insubstantial. It gave me loads of anxiety to be so hungry. It’s always been like that.
I think food banks should be supplied by the council and given proper budgets for good food, even if they made batches of soup themselves to give out it would be more filling than a tin of soup

If benefits were paid some cash and some food vouchers then it would always gets spent in the right way.

so many children are in poverty because parents buy fags and alcohol instead of food.

Benefits are not as generous as you think and the rise in prices is outstripping the rate benefits rise.

So much stereotyping. You do realise most on benefits aren't like "benefits Britain"?

This is true but not everyone who uses foodbanks live in travelodges I do see your point , Foodbank users come in all forms.and some have the resources to heat up tins.

And sadly some don't and I think in the UK.thats shameful.

Even one or two is too many for this, or do you think it’s ok for parents to prioritise themselves in this way and their children suffer?

"Those parents" would sell or swap vouchers neglected children will always be neglected regardless of how benefits are paid.

Sadly you are probably right. What a shitshow.

It Is.

Yes there are the occasional type of parents like that but most people aren't in poverty for those reasons. It is very much an minority. Sounds like you blame anyone in poverty for being irresponsible and it is their own fault.

As we're on the topic, would you say any regular users of foodbanks should be prioritising food above all fripperies of modern life?

There is a significant amount of personal responsibility in some cases, yes.

everything in life is a choice, sure some people have had really challenging circumstances but there are ( whether you like it or not) those that actively chose a life on benefits and do not spend the money responsibly and I really really don’t agree that this is as occasional as you believe it to be.

Not all people using foodbanks are on benefits. There are a lot of working poor.

It is quite difficult to actively choose a life on UC. It is different now.

We are on UC and work. Probably shouldn't buy chocolate for the kids. I will just serve gruel next time.

I agree with this, should never be the case that working people are worse off. But they are and that is everything that’s wrong with the entire system. Everything on this thread is a symptom , the cause is something much more ingrained in society and politics and will probably never be solved.

Your choice!

In our old house during Covid our neighbour was one of those. Selling the school food vouchers half price so she could buy crack. Kids living off shared noodle packets. Electric meter always beeping, the children where removed eventually but that took most of the covid lock downs. Ss was round every week, easy to spot as the only person with a lanyard who visited that house ever. The rest there junkies on pushbikes.

Why don't YOU make soup for 700 people and then report back, rather than winging that people on here who are doing great work aren't doing it right?

I assume from your high horse that you also run or volunteer at foodbanks and have managed to find the secret way to do it well, sustainably, fairly and under budget?

Oh that’s so sad 😞

And quite happy with it thanks.

You’ve taken something nothing about you and tried to make it all about you, so perhaps you do feel bad about what you spend your money on?!

I saw a report on TV about a foodbank charity in Liverpool who also ran foodbank hubs from their main premises I can't imagine them rustling up soup or dahl on a daily basis. I do think people need to educate themselves about food poverty and not just throw about comments about pots of soup.

Er, no I don't. I took issue with your lazy stereotypes. Most families on benefits are because they don't get paid a decent wage and pay high rents so therefore they need a top up.

@askmenow
Now many are happy doing the minimum 16hrs and sit on benefits to top up their income....I

Part of the reason employment is as high as it is is the number of people working part-time. Would it be better to have more people not working at all?

@malachitegreen
no, they are charities, and they should not be funded by the state

Plenty of charities receive funding from the state, charities are often better placed to provide certain services than the NHS or LA.

Yes, there's some really interesting thinking around this now, about what happens when you give people resources and agency through cash. This is an example.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/new-leaf-project-results-1.5752714

I volunteer with a food bank and we're seeing increasing numbers of people without the means to cook. I hate that so many are in this position.