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.

Starting to think that there are posters who would rather see things go in the bin than go to someone who may not be on the breadline.

It's so odd isn't it?

If someone is really set on getting a bargain. Go buy some yellow stickers. Don't go to a pantry. From the first post I assume the OP and her husband make around 100k a year combined. He has no need to be using this pantry and I get why she is so uncomfortable with this - he's taking food from people in genuine need

As for the person who called me an idiot. I would have gone under several times over the last few years if not for family Not because I can't budget but because I was living on 317 pounds a month

You try it - and even so I only used pantries where I had to pay for food and not food banks because I didn't want someone else to miss out

Wow think some missed the point
its to stop food waste not a food bank for struggling people.
he and anyone else , is entitled to go
it saves landfill and it would just be binned! I don’t see the point in that! So let him enjoy it.

Rubbish.

I have volunteered at our local one, and it is to cut food waste. In fact that's what they proudly promote, they've saved xx tonnes in food waste over xx months

I guess the ‘needy’ need to be identifying themselves….perhaps some sort of badge? Or hat? Or maybe a tattoo…

I feel I need to add a disclaimer here - I’m completely against any kind of ‘indicator’ for the ‘needy’

Perhaps, but ‘open to all’ MEANS ‘open to all’

It’s that simple.

I’m really lucky that I’m very close to one and qualify because of my job. My local one saved over a tonne going to waste last month.

Precisely this.

I run a charity that has a community food hub and is part of the Hubbub community fridge network.

It's exactly why we advertise as open to all. You will always get people like OP's husband though. Self absorbed and grabby.

The frustrations we have when the people in real need are too embarrassed to ask for help, and gluttons who want to save money they don't even need to save take absolute advantage because "well it's says it's for anyone "

We literally have to hold a stash back so we have enough for the people who desperately need the food.

Some people have no shame or consideration. Give back. It's called the community fridge.

I know there is food left as I am close friends with 2 of the volunteers. We discussed feeling uneasy about taking it and they insisted that it would only go in the bin. Are you suggesting the volunteers should identify the needy and take it to them?

Your husband sounds like a real dick head and is really showing himself up.

Is he like Scrooge or just a prize grabber who can never get enough

Not really into Community Pantries.etc. I know the mean well. But l have issues re the health and safety of the food on offer.

You could buy tins to same amount he saves and donate to the food bank. .. then you are saving food waste and helping those in need with food that's won't go off ....

It's interesting about the stigma issue.

I have a friend who is very much in need and I had to take her to the community pantry in town twice because she had no money for food and was too ashamed to go. It's for everyone!

We did have to queue, and I spoke to a volunteer on the quiet explaining how nervous she was and how I was just there to make sure she would collect some stuff - and the volunteer was very clear that I should take some as well (it's not quite "help yourself", the volunteers give you set amounts from each category) and she got two tubs of hot food too (which is only for people in need) for her and her husband.
I only took fresh stuff but I had a carrier bag of fruit, veg and bread. And some flowers.

I don't get time to go very often, but I quite like getting random food items and working out what to do with it all.

Maybe a badge that changes colour on your level of need 🤔
People don't seem to get this is the end of the line for some of this food.
It's been in the shop for sale.
Sometimes on special offer or reduced to clear.
It's been available for those on low incomes to buy cheap.
As someone said upthread Tesco have started giving away for free certain "yellow sticker" items after a certain time.
But after all that is done at the end of the day when the shops close for the night that food needs to be gone.
The community pantry is the last resort as a way to get rid of it before it heads to the bin.
There's no more opportunities for it to hang around waiting for "poor" people to have.

Only on MN would one see 25 pages of raging debate over nothing 😄

OP, its purpose is to limit food waste. It defines itself this way and it is what it says on the tin (no pun intended).

He should be taking some items that you would otherwise consider throwing away as this operates as an exchange.

I have similar shops locally and this is exactly what happens. It doesn't matter who uses them.

Food banks OTOH are completely different organisations and serve different purpose.

I don't understand some people's confusion at all.

OK, but it does, so...

Exactly - and as a former food bank user and at one point being unable to heat or eat I still cannot get angry at anyone turning up to a community pantry that has no ‘membership’ restrictions and taking food.

People are beyond fucking precious and I suspect many on here are suffering from a touch is ‘white saviour’ syndrome

It does…what?

I’d just chill to Groove Armada at this point

OP, its purpose is to limit food waste. It defines itself this way and it is what it says on the tin (no pun intended

As someone who manages exactly one of those hubs (within a larger charity) I've now explained twice why we deliberately market as "open to all'

Hubbub is a food waste initiative. Anyone can use it. If that is not what your organisation wants they should manage food distribution in a different way.

Then you’ve fallen foul of not being clear.

Exactly.

Two different things with different objectives. Our local surplus food org is constantly trying to expand its user base because so much food in the UK goes to waste. They specifically state that they're not a foodbank, they're open to all & their sole objective is preventing food waste.
Foodbanks usually require a referral from the DWP or other agencies, they try to provide basics that are easy to store as well as cheap & easy to cook. A surplus food org tries to find consumers for usually fresh food that's v close to its use-by date & for whatever reason isn't suitable for foodbanks. One eg; of the 2 foodbanks near me only one has any fridge space & very little of it, the chilled readymeals that turn up in the surplus food club are no use to them.

Surely you should have to show your benefits letters to prove you are in the poverty. That is totally wrong of your husband. I think he needs a serious talking to, or remove all money for him to see what it's like living on the breadline!!!!