Page 6 | I seriously need help

JenNtonic · 2025-09-28T09:11:02+00:00

Hi everyone. Hope all’s well. over the past week, nearly two I’ve worked my way through all of our food. please note this isn’t begging. I’ve had to pay for an emergency regarding my son that was unavoidable. I should add that he is now with his father so it’s just me in the house. I have £1.27 electric which I know won’t go until 9am tomorrow. I have googled Trussell trust and church feeds but none are over my end of the city. I have even gone through the rice, the custard, just everything. Does anyone know of an emergency food service /bank that delivers or that I could walk to, that’s open on a Sunday ? I will take and accept anything I feel really quite ill now. I get paid on the 3rd (Fri) so it’s just a tiny bit longer but I’ve been hungry for about 2 weeks now. I’m in south Wales I know it’s my fault for not saving etc but I’ve been off my anti depressants the last two months and evidently, it was too soon as I’m not coping. any advice gratefully received and thanks in advance to all xX

Neodymium · 29/09/2025 23:13

Idontpostmuch · 29/09/2025 13:39

In her first post there was a clue. She stated she wasn't begging. People who aren't hoping for money would never think of saying that.

Show quote history

That’s exactly what they post. Because asking for money outright is seen as a scam.

we get them on my local fb group. Don’t ever ask for money just asking for formula or something. But once someone responds to them and they are messaging they convince them to give money or gift cards instead. Usually allergies or special formula needed or something.

its taking advantage of good people and also making everyone less trusting.

I worked in a supermarket years ago and people would come in with a food voucher for st vinnies. It would be stamped with no cigarettes/soft drinks/lollies allowed. So many customers would either abuse the staff member when they wouldn’t put the cigarettes or soft drinks through, or would use the voucher for food and then pull out a wad of cash to buy cigarettes. Eventually the directive came because of the complaints and abuse we let them buy whatever it’s not our job to police it anymore so they would use an entire voucher on soft drinks crisps and cigarettes. Because of this experience I don’t donate to st vinnies.

AmazonianWarrior · 30/09/2025 01:58

So many of you judge people by your experience clearly and not even give them a chance. I DM-d with this lady, she is really nice and all she asked for is 4 items when I said I’ll do a shop for her. Cheap instant noodles, toilet paper, toothpaste and tea.
If you can’t help people, at least don’t kick them when they are down! How would you feel if you were in a bad situation and people were horrid to you?!
What happened to being kind and helping each other? I’m shocked how many nasty comments are on this thread! It’s really sad and you should be ashamed of yourself! You think everyone who is poor is because they are druggies or alkies. Yet there are many people out there who are ill or are actually working but still can’t make ends meet. Why judge them and say such nasty, malicious things? Everything starts with you and when you are like this to people in need, it’s just sad and tells everything about you, not about the person you’re judging!

RandomGeocache · 30/09/2025 07:51

@AmazonianWarrior the problem is - you have no idea who you were messaging. I'd be really nice too if I thought people were going to send me money. She might well have been genuine, she may have been a scammer. She may not even have been a she. You just don't know and that's why MN put up the warning!

By sending her stuff or food - and you won't have been the only one, guaranteed - this encourages people who are scamming to target MN as they know people can be a soft touch.

If you feel strongly about people going hungry or any other issues, donate to food banks or the appropriate charity. Local or national, there is no shortage of them and they are easy to find online. Sending money or items to randomers online is just stupid.

PrincessofWells · 30/09/2025 09:10

RandomGeocache · 30/09/2025 07:51

@AmazonianWarrior the problem is - you have no idea who you were messaging. I'd be really nice too if I thought people were going to send me money. She might well have been genuine, she may have been a scammer. She may not even have been a she. You just don't know and that's why MN put up the warning!

By sending her stuff or food - and you won't have been the only one, guaranteed - this encourages people who are scamming to target MN as they know people can be a soft touch.

If you feel strongly about people going hungry or any other issues, donate to food banks or the appropriate charity. Local or national, there is no shortage of them and they are easy to find online. Sending money or items to randomers online is just stupid.

I couldn't agree less with your post. If people feel comfortable doing a shop for someone because they say they have nothing that's fine by me. Providing people understand the risk attached to giving to strangers and that they may be scammers that's their choice. It's not stupid, it's kind and generous.

padronpepper · 30/09/2025 09:27

I think some people think that there are no scammers or trolls on MN - that it's a cosy lovely friendly warm community where everyone is who they say they are.
That is far from the truth.

Idontpostmuch · 30/09/2025 10:25

AmazonianWarrior · 30/09/2025 01:58

So many of you judge people by your experience clearly and not even give them a chance. I DM-d with this lady, she is really nice and all she asked for is 4 items when I said I’ll do a shop for her. Cheap instant noodles, toilet paper, toothpaste and tea.
If you can’t help people, at least don’t kick them when they are down! How would you feel if you were in a bad situation and people were horrid to you?!
What happened to being kind and helping each other? I’m shocked how many nasty comments are on this thread! It’s really sad and you should be ashamed of yourself! You think everyone who is poor is because they are druggies or alkies. Yet there are many people out there who are ill or are actually working but still can’t make ends meet. Why judge them and say such nasty, malicious things? Everything starts with you and when you are like this to people in need, it’s just sad and tells everything about you, not about the person you’re judging!

Nobody has been nasty. Being kind doesn't mean letting down your guard.

ilovesooty · 30/09/2025 13:53

Obviously the MNHQ warning that not everyone is who they say they are isn't taken on board by some people.

dollyblue01 · 30/09/2025 13:58

AmazonianWarrior · 30/09/2025 01:58

So many of you judge people by your experience clearly and not even give them a chance. I DM-d with this lady, she is really nice and all she asked for is 4 items when I said I’ll do a shop for her. Cheap instant noodles, toilet paper, toothpaste and tea.
If you can’t help people, at least don’t kick them when they are down! How would you feel if you were in a bad situation and people were horrid to you?!
What happened to being kind and helping each other? I’m shocked how many nasty comments are on this thread! It’s really sad and you should be ashamed of yourself! You think everyone who is poor is because they are druggies or alkies. Yet there are many people out there who are ill or are actually working but still can’t make ends meet. Why judge them and say such nasty, malicious things? Everything starts with you and when you are like this to people in need, it’s just sad and tells everything about you, not about the person you’re judging!

I totally agree with you and love the fact that you have helped this person, let people think the worst it’s not like she’s asked directly for money, she wanted 4 items fgs.

UnderstoodBetsy · 30/09/2025 16:30

I really wish MNHQ would put a stop to this sort of thread. I have no idea whether this particular OP was genuine or not, but there have been so many unscrupulous scammers on MN over the years. Well-meaning offers of money just encourage the scammers even more. I think MNHQ should close these threads immediately. They could contact the OP directly with information about available resources.

Whoevenarethey · 30/09/2025 16:39

AmazonianWarrior · 30/09/2025 01:58

So many of you judge people by your experience clearly and not even give them a chance. I DM-d with this lady, she is really nice and all she asked for is 4 items when I said I’ll do a shop for her. Cheap instant noodles, toilet paper, toothpaste and tea.
If you can’t help people, at least don’t kick them when they are down! How would you feel if you were in a bad situation and people were horrid to you?!
What happened to being kind and helping each other? I’m shocked how many nasty comments are on this thread! It’s really sad and you should be ashamed of yourself! You think everyone who is poor is because they are druggies or alkies. Yet there are many people out there who are ill or are actually working but still can’t make ends meet. Why judge them and say such nasty, malicious things? Everything starts with you and when you are like this to people in need, it’s just sad and tells everything about you, not about the person you’re judging!

The issue is asking on here for people to help does lead to people like yourself offering money. Did you send money or did you do an order to their address? As while you might be told the money is for these bits, it might be spent elsewhere. It's also not helping in the long term. Knowing you can pop a post online and someone will hand out money means the person doesn't learn how to help themself. This can be through knowing where places are in the area they live such as food banks, community fridges, voluntary groups that offer meals and so on.
The items you mentioned the OP wanted can all be obtained from a food bank. I don't live in a particularly big town but there are two food banks operating (which shows how many people are in need). I know one of them delivers and it's likely the other does too. There are also two community fridges in town (so quite accessible) and one further out of town. The community centre does a free meal on Thursdays and there is a community cafe that does a pay what you can lunch every other Saturday. This sort of information would be more useful to the op long term as she can use them again if needed.

EchoedSilence · 30/09/2025 16:45

People who send money to online scammers are why the scammers target MN.

FaceBothered · 30/09/2025 16:58

It does worry me that some of the most gullible adults on here are also responsible for their kid's internet safety.

RandomGeocache · 30/09/2025 16:59

EchoedSilence · 30/09/2025 16:45

People who send money to online scammers are why the scammers target MN.

Of course it is. I don't blame MNHQ for this, they post the warning and people think they know better. 🙄

My eldest is 23, I have been on parenting forums since I was pregnant with him and I have seen it SO many times. People like to virtue signal and show what a good/kind/generous person they are by paypalling £20 to a randomer, gives them the warm fuzzy feeling that donating £20 to a food bank doesn't. They don't care that the randomer is actually scamming.

Disabling PMs as soon as the warning is given would be positive. Then posters could still share info about local resources.