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 am surprised to hear of a Greggs with left over food. My local one has the shelves swiped by shoplifters all the time.

Yes you'd think they'd always sell out (plus the stealing thing 🙁).
Going by the photo on the Facebook post it was a massive amount of sausage rolls.
I'm guessing someone ordered too many.

That's downright hilarious

Just to point out the town that Facebook post was from has several (actual) food banks - some you do require referral but some are charities based on the honesty of those requesting food and some are church based.

I hope you didn't think I was being rude.
Apologies if you did 🙂
My point (and essentially the whole argument of this thread) is that Community Pantries are for anyone and everyone.

Better that OP's husband takes it than if it sits there rotting. It depends on the demand. Is it really being used only by the near destitute? It is not the food bank where you need to qualify surely?

It depends if the food would go to waste or not.

Is there a brick wall in the community pantry that I can bang my head off?

I know you've said that this is open to all but I don't think your dh should be taking food, given your financial circumstances. Suggest he drops off the food to a homeless shelter or a donation centre. At least that way those who are really in need will benefit from the food.

I'm pretty sure shelters or donation centres don't want crates of bread and pastries about to go out of date, or piles of say red peppers many of which are a bit squishy. This misguided charity likely creates more work for the shelter and centre staff.

No, I'm sure they don't, unless they have large freezers to freeze food. He could always check to see what's needed as I agree that leaving large amounts of food at shelters at short notice isn't helpful, if it can't be used quickly.

It is open to all for a reason. Because community fridges if they are just for those in need are often throwing away a huge amount of perishable goods. My organisation has a canteen and staff are offered up veg, bread and pastries that are about to go off. They have stated they have offered to local charities and they do not want them. If OPs husband does need to assuage his middle class guilt I would suggest look out for wishlishts of local food banks - they are often looking for things like rice, pasta, long life milk and cereals

According to a BBC show which took place in a Warburton's factory, the UK produces around twice the amount of bread the population eats. BBC One - Inside the Factory, Series 9, Sliced Bread

Supermarkets deliberately over order so that they have all the different varieties in stock. They know they can offload the extra to community pantries rather than paying their own disposal costs. Of course, the community pantries can't give it away either, or if they do, the recipients don't actually get round to eating it.

If we really cared about conserving resources and building a healthy economy, supermarkets would receive heavy penalties to deter this wastefulness.

Just saw this advertising my local community fridge