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 think it's fine if it's not a food bank for those hard up. If it's just to reduce waste, then not a problem. DH did 'too good to go' for a bit, getting bread etc from shops near his work at v low price when it was only going to get thrown out. I don't think it's particularly for low income, but to reduce food waste.

The well-off hoovering up resources, as it ever was.

Why is a community pantry set up? its to help the less fortunate, you high earners dont need it…its pure and utter greed… but i do believe in karma, so best of luck stealing from less fortunate….

you don’t think there are others who would benefit more that two high rate tax payers?

He's not going to it to reduce waste is he? It's right there in the opening that he's going for the free food. That he doesn't need and can otherwise afford. So let's stop pretending he's being an altruistic angel and trying to reduce waste.

That’s cool - but stop imposing your self imposed ‘rules’ onto others.

OP, the derranged virtue signalling in here and the fiercely protecting fictional Dickensian poor folk your husband is crushing into the mud is ludicrous.

He should volunteer there a couple of times. See for himself whether the people using it in your area are missing out if he takes stuff or if it is beneficial for all to use it. Also as a volunteer he can literally take stuff as they close that would defo only be thrown away so poor old Mrs Goggins that mumsnet invented doesn’t starve to death.

You didn't answer.

Are you and others suggesting that people on higher wages should not take part in anti-food waste initiatives?

That is what this particular pantry is as confirmed by OP.

Not always?
Olio has people giving food away for free and so do (some) community pantries.
The one the OPs husband goes to doesn't sound like you have to be a member or anything.
It's literally unwanted food being given away to whoever wants it. For free.

I didn’t, I did the same as others and I gave my view. Where did I impose my rules?

'If food waste were a country it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases globally'.

I find this absolutely shocking. And it's statements like this that inspired the opening of the Community Fridge in our town which is OPEN TO ALL TO REDUCE FOOD WASTE.

If anyone is interested in the Community Fridge Network or finding one near them, check out this section on Hubbub.

https://hubbub.org.uk/community-fridge-network

You can really tell which posters on this thread have decent morals and who doesn’t. Clear as day.

No. It's to stop fresh food going in the bin.

That’s because you aren’t my mother and I don’t have to answer you. Didn’t see you answering either.

Our local community pantry is desperate to get people in to use up the food. They’re always advertising incoming produce on Facebook. Absolutely you should use it as it reduces the insane amount of food waste. If you wanted you could also consider making the occasional financial donation to a food bank in ‘gratitude’ for your good fortune.

Of course I didn't answer. I was waiting for yours.

I am actually quite curious to know why people think that anti-food waste initiatives shouldn't be used by people who are not in poverty

Yes but if he doesn't take it and the next "not poor enough" person doesn't take it and so on....the food will literally be thrown in a bin.
No "poor" person will get it.

I will be going to my local one tomorrow for the first time. I have seen people queue up outside before, and I would hate to think anyone would look at them and feel pity and make assumptions about their financial situation. A bit like when you see people outside the Job Centre.
If people from all backgrounds show up, then that queue is just some people wanting to prevent food waste and any stigma about going there is reduced. That is surely a good thing.

I'm rather more struck by the poor reading comprehension.

I thought you had to be on benefits to use a food bank, and what you describe sounds like a food bank.

A community pantry is not for couples earning so much that they both fall into the higher income tax bracket. They should leave it for people who need it and are on low income.

In this scenario, if the husband bought the same food at the supermarket at full price, that would similarly diminish the excess food ending up at the community pantry...

If you're really serious about maximising food availability there, you'd have to make sure you didn't buy anything from the supermarket, regardless of price, to maximise unsold waste.

Or, as I guess that wouldn't work long-term, you'd have to make an effort to try to shop really unpredictably, to screw up their ordering predictions?

And any efforts by the shop to minimise waste would similarly be unethical, if you were relying on waste as a general means of feeding the poor.

I'm beginning to get a bit dizzy thinking of all the moral hazards involved in thinking that an anti-waste measure is an anti-poverty measure.

Your husband must be a very mean and shameless man with little care for others.

But what if all the food is not taken every week even with OP's husband using it? Would you actually rather the food was thrown away?

The outrage on here is hilarious

It’s to reduce food waste and it’s open to all. There’s one at our local community centre. People come with shopping trollers and queue up waiting for them to open. That’s desperate I haven’t used it myself. They did have to put a sign up saying not to take so much for themselves as sometimes there was nothing left.

But also just want to point out the people who collect the food use their own car’s and do it voluntarily. They ask for donations to cover petrol costs so I hope your DH is sticking his hand in his pocket and contributing.