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.

It's not a foodbank.

The majority of our users who need food support, are people who are too embarrassed to seek a food bank referral. It's great that you were able to use that service. The feedback we hear all the time is how undignified it feels.

We are marketed "open to everyone" to try and remove the embarrassment factor, so the people who truly need us, come in. It's a thing. Most food hubs do it. We have nationwide meetings where we constantly discuss removing barriers and stigma.

The people who take the most and have to be "policed" for trying to take multiple of items that clearly say "please, one per household" are people who are not in need.

Some people are just self absorbed, self interested and grabby. But if enduring 1 of OPs husband types, means we help 10 people in need, then it's worth it

At the three I’m aware of locally, there is always food left at the end of the opening time. I occasionally pop down at 10:45 (the one I go to is open 9:30-11am) and pick up anything good that’s still left. There’s a big queue there from about 9am which I presume is all the people who are really desperate for food and using it as a sort of fill-in food bank rather than a food waste reduction project, but there’s still often lots of fruit and veg left over and things like bread rolls etc. the project put on Facebook appeals for people to come down and take it so it doesn’t get thrown away. I think by letting others have access to it first and waiting (if you’re not in need of free food) then that’s the best of both worlds.

He is doing nothing wrong. It is NOT a food bank for those who can’t afford food. A food bank relies on donations from people kind enough to give to those in need. A community fridge is for everyone as it is about cutting waste as the food is usually out of date, though nothing wrong with it. I don’t think food banks accept out of date food, so this stuff at the community fridge cannot even go to the food bank. Leave him alone. If you’re that bothered though, why don’t you donate to the local food bank to make yourself feel better?

This thread is going round and round in circles 😵‍💫

Lol.

Thanks for explaining how the organisation I'm part of works.

The reality is, we're effectively food banks for people who are too embarrassed to ask for food bank referrals. Perhaps 5% of users don't fall into that category and want to reduce food waste. The rest could not care less. They are hungry and don't want the embarrassment of a good bank referral. I meet monthly with other heads withing the network and it is the same across the board.

But, keep banging on about "but you say it's for everyone on the poster" if it helps you ignore the glaringly obvious reason it's marketed that way.

way to be dense. That’s YOUR one.
there are plenty of others who are genuinely to cut food waste and there are people above thread who confirmed.
not every place is exactly like your place of work

Community pantries are run differently to food banks, they are more geared up to prevent edible food being thrown away. However I would probably go at the end of the session so those that need the food have the first choice.

HE is BU.
That food should be for people who are desperately in need. He loves a yellow label-I get that. But taking it from a community pantry is like taking candy from a baby. Shame on him!

Don’t expect people to read your subtext.

Did you struggle with the part about other hubs stating this is across the board?

Bit "dense" eh?

I also volunteer at a Community Fridge which is also part of the Hubbub network and ours is open to anyone and I mean anyone.
We've had so much to share at some points that our volunteers have jumped onto buses waiting at the bus stop to try and give away the food.

Kindly, if the main purpose of your organisation isn't to reduce food waste, then you're sending out mixed messages and that's unfair.

Most people don't need the explanation. They understand what the purpose of the hubs are, through common sense rather than "well, it says I can go, so..."

Some funders don't care that people are hungry. It's not their primary objective to be perceived by. They just want to be seen to be "greener" so they sign up for the reducing food waste, reducing food miles narrative via community fridges. We apply for their funding on this basis. They hand it out to tick their box at their AGMs. We use the funding to feed more hungry people.

You don't have to like how it works. And yes, we crow on about the reduced food waste. But most people can easily understand that it's dressed up as one thing, but very much operates as a food bank.

I agree with this. [Edit: quote didn't quote - sorry - this relates to the above posts]

If it's Hubbub then its mission is very clear, it's an environmental focus organisation:

"Community fridges are a tried and tested way of reducing the environmental impact of food waste. Every year, the UK bins a shocking 6.4 million tonnes of edible food—worth a staggering £21 billion (WRAP, 2023). And if food waste were a country, it would be the third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases globally. Across the growing network, each fridge redistributes between one and four tonnes of surplus food per month, making the collective impact of the network huge.
However, they also do so much more: all across the UK, fridges have become the centre of the community. As well as stopping good food from going to waste, people can also take part in other activities, learning new skills such as how to grow or cook food, or simply drop in for a chat. In 2024 we supported over 100 community fridge sites to expand their offer to include community meals and cooking and growing workshops. In the context of rocketing food prices and widespread loneliness, many community fridges have also become a lifeline and valuable meeting place at the heart of their community."

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

If it's not Hubbub, but you're using similar wording then you're totally confusing people and need to rethink your marketing strategy. HTH 👌

You took the time to do a survey of a representative cross section of society? I doubt it.

That’s disgusting behaviour

@FortnumsWeddingBreakfastTeaPlease

Well, I am confused.
My local one says several times on their site that it is open to everyone. They also offer courses in cooking, English for non-speakers, CAB drop in etc.

But from what some people are saying on here, they are actually foodbanks and people not in need should not be going to them?
Surely if that is the case, they need to make it very clear with their marketing. Hidden meanings don't help at all.

I have never been to one. Am I going to get judgemental looks and whispers looks from the volunteers because they assume I am "grabby" and just after bargains because they have not seen me before?

We would welcome you at ours.

Please visit your local one and talk to the volunteers.

Ours is open to anyone. They all are.

We once had 49 crates of courgettes that would have been mush within 24 hours, so yes you definitely get gluts of things and you can barely give the things away. We have a local supermarket who gives us stuff that half of it, is so it doesn't take up room, rotting in their bins costing them more money to be collected by a waste disposal firm. It's just how the system works.

I appreciate your viewpoint, but I think you would perhaps be surprised to hear how the cogs turn in the background. Are you part of writing the funding bids? Thank you for volunteering though, we couldn't run without you guys and we are eternally grateful for your dedication.

Thanks. I was intending to tomorrow but it turns out they will closed (it is in a church and a funeral will be taking place).

I walked past our local community fridge last week and they were offering bags of carrots and apples to passers-by - they said they’d had a huge delivery of them from a local allotment group.

I took a bag of each but I now know I am an child-starving deviant.

Christ. Not everyone who receives a benefit is in poverty.
Food banks have systems in place (including salaried positions) to ensure those most in need have enough to eat. Food hubs are not there to meet this need.

I'm not sure what's funny about that. Your organisation has chosen to join a scheme that doesn't align with its aims. Manage it better or put up with the community using the community fridge.

I find this unacceptable.

For those who like a bargain, try Discount Dragon. The food isn't that healthy (no fresh food), but if you look regularly there are things you might want. I got a big box of free Mars bars today, I won't eat them, but I'll take them into work nearer Christmas.
Not just food.