DH is using community pantry for free food

[cookingaroast]

There is a community pantry in our village, with the purpose being to cut food waste. I completely support cutting down on food waste, and the food provided is all from supermarkets who would otherwise throw the food out. My issue is more I'm a bit uncomfortable with us taking the food.
We are both in the tech industry and both fall into the higher tax bracket for our salaries, more than capable of paying for food ourselves.

I've said to DH I don't think we should be utilising this resource and leave the food for others who need it more than us but he loves the bargains (free food) he gets from it. He genuinely wants to show off the stuff he's picked up whenever he goes - which is usually once a week.

I guess I feel a bit uncomfortable that this free food could be a lifeline to people. I do like charity shopping and getting a bargain but I don't feel as bad, as I'm paying what they decide they feel it's worth and the money is going to charity. This is completely free and run by volunteers.

I've had to use food banks and I don't care

The biggest obstacle for me was shame. A rich bloke in the queue with me would have really negated that.

Perhaps in a few years when even more are using them and there are less resources it might be an issue, but for now, I think it's great that everyone shares. Make sure you tell people where you go so they're not embarrassed to use the resource.

Anyone that hasn't had to use a food bank can stop with their fake outrage.

We have one in our village. They are not food banks. They really are open to everyone with the aim to stop food waste. He’s doing nothing wrong! Don’t be harsh on him.

Curious as to how old you are? I've only ever seen 'gives me the ick' used by much younger people.
I'm in my 50's now and it's not a phrase I've heard in my age group.

My DH is a tech industry higher earner too and I'm a SAHM, we wouldn't use it. We have a food budget we have to stick to- we're comfortable but I couldn't just grab whatever I fancied without a list at the supermarket every time as we'd over spend. He pointed out a while ago that we shouldn't be buying the yellow sticker reduced food as some people rely on it to get by. I love a bargain and grew up on yellow sticker shopping but I totally get his point so I leave them now

@cookingaroast

Seriously, as someone who helped to organise and set up a community pantry in my town, YABVU. A community pantry is intended to reduce food waste and anyone who wants and will use the food is very welcome to take it, regardless of their income - that’s the whole point. It’s attitudes and beliefs like yours that deter people from using the pantries at all which in turn can cause the initiative to fail!

Please learn the difference between a Community Pantry and a Food Bank. It sounds to me like your husband is using it exactly as intended - and the more people he tells about his ‘bargains’ the better as it might encourage them to go and have a look too!

Really who is most likely to NEED to use these. If there is free food on offer leave it for those in need. Classification of the bank doesn't really matter.

We have one in our town.

it’s advertised purpose is reducing food waste, but it very much intended to also support with food poverty. I wouldn’t use it, because it’s very much in demand and sometime runs out.

Perhaps your husband could go at the end of the session (so not taking from anyone else) and make sure he makes a decent sized donation regularly?

If it's food that would otherwise be wasted, and there's an excess, then I don't see an issue.

Don't assume that. We have a local group who set up two pantries, purely for the purpose of reducing waste. There is a complete seperate food bank, run by a different group. Do folk in need end up using the pantry? Yes, of course, but so do those who just want to reduce waste.

It's not a food bank.

Why?

I have no problem with this. We have two locally and they are not food banks, one of the better ones though will put aside food for people they know are really struggling. The advertising is very clear it’s for everyone. However have had families who don’t qualify for the food bank or benefits but a member of the family has become ill or been made redundant.
The food wastage is unreal. Loaves of bread that need eating on the same day, veg that also needs eating, packaged food and things like milk which need a lot of freezer space.

How can you sleep with him ever again?
All respect for him would be lost.
Awful man.

My affluent retiree friend used to volunteer in a community pantry. She would go home with a big bag of stuff that would otherwise get binned. They want the footfall. It’s fine and he’s sensible.

If it’s a community pantry to avoid food waste then it’s fine. Presumably he donates to The Trussell Trust?

One Sunday, I passed by a set of shelves on the pavement with a few free items including fresh chives and coriander and really wanted to take some but didn't because I thought it was a food bank. It's just dawned on me that it probably was a community pantry.
How many people will use fresh coriander in a tiny Scottish village? I donate to a food bank and now I know about community banks, will take 'exotic' food like this, that no one else wants, to prevent waste.

How are you classifying who really ‘needs’ to use the pantry though? Who qualifies and how do you think this should be policed? Are you going to ask everyone as they walk in what their annual household income is? This would be akin to turning the community pantries into food banks, which is not the aim (I set up one in my area and can attest to the fact that they are for ANYONE to use). The aim is to get rid of all the food so it’s not wasted. ANYONE can take it. Please stop confusing the narrative of a community pantry and making people feel guilty for using them as they are intended to be used!

Food Hub redistributes surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. This food feeds our community, whilst promoting food waste reduction in X for environmental and social good. The types of food we rescue varies, and is dependent on what is available – it could be bread, fruit and veg, eggs, store cupboard or chilled food like yoghurt or pies. We never know what will be available on the day!

Our food is shared to local charities and community groups, including community Foodshare tables. Everyone is welcome to our Foodshares. We kindly suggest a minimum £2 donation for a bag of food, with an extra £1 for frozen items. Every donation goes towards the cost of running the Food Hub so come along to help both your purse and the planet!

My local one does not mention income.

There's one in my area but you do have to pay to use it. It's £5 for a yearly membership and then you can use it twice a week only but you also have to pay for the food based on how many items you want.

small shop - £5
medium shop - £7.50
large shop - £10
extra large shop - £12.50

It also just isn't fruit, veggies & bread either. I regularly get eggs, steak, bacon, chicken drumsticks, microwave meals etc there's a really good variety.

They also have a community cafe next door which offers free soup for lunch to everyone once a week, they try and bring you in for soup if you walk past and if you mention that you don't need it, they'll say it doesn't matter and try to drag you in anyway. They also offer low cost lunch options the rest of the week with a different option each day.

They also did a Halloween party for the kids, do a baby & toddler group during term time, bingo, quizzes etc it's an amazing space and they do so much for the community.

Definitely very different from a food bank. It's about saving waste and trying to bring the local community together.

Ours is similar.

From their Facebook page.

Q . Can anyone shop here?
A . Yes, ANYONE! You can sign up for a years membership without needing to show proof of your circumstances.

After making a donation, I was once given a case of tonic water, donated by Tesco, that a food charity couldn't get rid of. They had stacks of it and and noone wanted it.

Oh really? We’re wealthy on paper although not in reality and we own lots of our own books and also go to the library, I still did the Dolly Parton scheme for youngest DC. To be honest, I think the uptake in my local area was extremely low anyway. We went to the graduation ceremony a few months ago and we were one of three families so…

Beside the by. If the community pantry wishes to start only catering to those most in need, they should turn it into a referral only or perhaps ask for proof of benefits. I doubt they’ll want to do that because it’s intrusive and can be embarrassing for people. If they’re regularly running out of food and you know your area has lots of people in need, your DH needs to stop. If, however, they often have a lot of surplus which ironically would otherwise be going to waste, let him continue.

I live in a very deprived area and there's a community pantry, which is a big shed where food is left. It's close to expiry date (although things like bread, fruit, pasta, pulses) and local people appear very reluctant to use it. It's more used by eco type families from outside the area and the food would otherwise be thrown in the bin.

I’m amazed that people don’t buy reduced stuff in super markets. I always feel a bit guilty for not buying it as I know a lot of it will get binned. I prefer the fresher stuff though.

So people couldn't use charity shop if they can afford new clothes? The aim of a charity shop is to raise money for charities so most people agree that anyone can buy clothes there.
The aim of a community pantry is to prevent food waste. They often get a lot of food and may even struggle to shift it all. They want everyone to use it to achieve their aim of reducing waste.

Also, you can't necessarily donate to them because they're not a food bank. That's certainly not how ours works.