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.

Yes maybe I am being patronising but you clearly aren't getting it.
The whole point is Community Pantries is to stop left over fresh food being chucked in a bin.
They are for EVERYONE and ANYONE.
Rich or poor.
Do you get it now?

To counter his behaviour you could do ate to a food bank. He should go towards end of day and so only take to avoid waste not from our hers who need the food.

This may be some form of a mental something or other. He's being bad, he knows he's taking food from needy people, and he crows about doing it afterwards. Taking food out of the mouths of hungry families is bad. Maybe he wants you to spank him. For whatever reason, he is getting pleasure out of doing it. As some say over here, that man ain't right in the head.

What's people's view on Community Bookshelves?
Usually found at railway station or sometimes in shopping centres, bus shelters or abandoned phone boxes.
They are literally a book swap where you can leave books you've finished with and take a new one if you want.
Are they just for the "poor" too? Or can anyone take books from them?
I mean it's free books.....shocking 🤷

if people are idiots then I will call them that.

I hope you interrogated all the staff to check they deserved to take food. If there is lots of food that won't get taken where is the problem in someone like the OP's DH taking it?

My local food pantry often posts on facebook that there is loads of fresh veg, fruit, bread etc and almost begging people to go and get some. I have never gone to get any of the food but if I did I would not feel guilty. Oh and I live in a not particularly well off area.

😂
Another one missing the point.

Thank you for the link. I have never heard of it, so I looked at what it is about. The nearest to me is about 20 miles.

That's a really good point. Similarly in this scenario, anyone buying too much at the supermarket, not using it and throwing it out would also be depriving others of food that would otherwise be unsold and could be donated to the local Community Fridge/pantry.

The average household spends hundreds on food each year that just ends up in the bin. So clearly some people aren't as bothered by food poverty as they'd perhsps like to think they are.

You can really tell which posters on this thread have a brain and who doesn't

Pretty much, yes.

Come on then Roobarb, how is that going to work in practice? Maybe the volunteers in the "open to everyone" community pantry start asking for P60s or wage slips? Proof of being on benefits? Maybe they start asking people to complete a budget statement before being allowed through the door?

Their aim is to get rid of excess food. Whether that is 144 tubs of fat free yoghurt, 60 trays of morning rolls, or bagged salad. This particular pantry is open to anyone as the aims are not around food poverty but around waste reduction.

This idea that the next person along will be one of those "poor people" is just silly. It's like saying that you won't buy a dress in a charity shop just in case a "poor person" happens to pop in and need it for an interview. Or swerving the yellow stickers because someone else might need it more. When there is no guarantee that will ever happen.

Still. Thanks to all the people who have these odd ideas about leaving things just in case the next person along "needs it more". Means more bargains for the rest of us.

But there is always food left. It would cost to “means test” people. They are run by volunteers. No one at a free food hub is taking food away from those in need. And how do you decide that?

I live in a naice area. We have a community fridge and pantry that started in Covid as a way for vulnerable people to more easily get food parcels. After Covid it became a ‘food bank’ however it has now been rebranded as a community fridge for multiple reasons. One is that the perishable food was going off and being thrown out and the second was to help with the stigma. Now that everyone pops in it has increased engagement for those in need of it and also stopped the food waste. It is encouraged that if you are not in ‘need’ that you don’t take non perishable goods or longer life but stick to the things like bread, pastry and fruit and veg. If they get too much milk they will often deliver to any of the local businesses for their staff

Your husband doesn't need this service and other people do. That's the bottom line. During covid in my area there was a community group giving out sandwiches and hot meals and I almost didn't participate because I thought someone would need it more than me. At that point I was on around 360 pounds a month

Yes it's fine that he cares about food waste but this isn't about food waste. This is about someone bragging about all his bargains while having plenty money.

Oh and by the way. I give back. Lots of poor people do. Even when I've had nothing I have tried to help other people.

There are people who really do need pantries. Your husband isn't one of them and he should stop using it.

Again. These pantries are a lifeline for poor people - some people have literally nothing - and someone is showing off their "bargains". It's obscene

Here's a bit of perspective. Our community pantry had to close because not enough people were using it. They were begging people to come and take the food that would otherwise be going to waste. It's not a foodbank. Community pantries are very different to food banks and people need to use them to do their bit to reduce overall food waste. Your husband isn't depriving anyone and it's nice that he's pleased with what he has picked up from it rather than being a snob that thinks he's above taking a freebie to help reduce food waste.

I suppose if it's aimed at waste reduction then he's welcome to use it

If you feel bad about it you could buy some extra when shopping and pop them in the food bank bin? Evens it out

If it still tastes good and fresh, I wouldn't have any qualms about it. Get some good stuff now in these food banks and community places, like steaks, beef topside, best Waitrose pizzas and even guinea fowl and pheasant.

Oh and if anyone thinks I am an idiot. You choose between heating and eating which I had to do for two years and get back to me.

It sounds more like olio than a food bank.

Food bank is donated food for the poor.
Olio is short dated, almost food waste, and available to anybody that can keep it out of landfill.

Our local pantry often are almost begging people to take the fresh veg, bread etc.

I really do think some of the posters would rather the food went to landfill then let someone who is not poor have it. Maybe they are some of the people across the country who throw good food away and don't think the food waste is disgusting

Of course it does. Most people are very clear on the difference between the two models.

Would you prefer that food was thrown away than given to a higher earner?

I'm sure they have rules & guidelines. In my town we're aware ours is used mostly by those who can't afford supermarket prices. He will have been noticed & marked as a miserable grabber. I volunteer in another charity & we do notice more affluent people buying to save money. As long as our stock sells I don't care who buys it 😬

rofl

Oh and I walked past a community pantry while on holiday in Northumberland (possibly Alnwick?) which was literally a red phone box with shelves. No staff. Help yourself.