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Original poster

Food bank

180 replies

Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 07:49

Hello, I have been waiting for a voucher for a food bank referral but there now aren’t any food banks open today near me! What do you do - it’s so amazing that there is a system in place to help but only if it’s a weekday. I’m not sure what to do / doesn’t anyone have any advice ? Thank you

OP posts:
plumduck · 19/02/2023 07:50

Wait until tomorrow. Like you say it's amazing there's something in place.

Do you have any food you can eat today?

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 07:54

No, that’s why I was asking if anyone knew if anything in place over the weekend!

OP posts:
plumduck · 19/02/2023 07:56

Ask a neighbour or there's an app where you can go and collect food restaurants are about to chuck out but I can't remember what it's called sorry hopefully someone else can help.

Do you have any money at all? If you can scrape enough for a packet of pasta that should see you through a day?

BreviloquentBastard · 19/02/2023 07:58

Try Olio? It's an app where people give stuff away for free, you usually have to go get it though. Depending on your location you might be able to get some ingredients for a simple soup or stew, or even some pasties and sandwiches. Looking on it now in my location there's a reasonable amount of veg and some chicken and chorizo sausage, all within walking distance and we're quite rural!

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 07:59

I have olio and there isn’t anything in my area ever it’s very frustrating as I would like to use that - no car either so that doesn’t help much ! Thank you though x

OP posts:
Overthebow · 19/02/2023 08:01

Have you got anything in the house at all? And any money at all even pence? If you post what you have we may have some suggestions.

MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 19/02/2023 08:02

Have you got any friends/family who can feed you? How many people do you need food for?

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:03

I have some broccoli, milk, and 2 sweet potatoes 😂

OP posts:
Plentef · 19/02/2023 08:04

If you don’t have money then download AttaPoll and do some surveys. They’re often not very interesting and you get screened out of a few and you have to tell the truth and they’re money like 20p for 15 mins and quite random but you can cash out at £3. It transfers instantly to PayPal which you can send to your bank then get baking potatoes (62p for 4 at the moment) and butter or milk.

honestlyno · 19/02/2023 08:05

Go to your local church? I'm not religious and don't go to church, but thinking they are open and may be able to offer support or signpost. Likewise your local homeless shelter.
Hope you find the help you need x

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:06

Thank you, I’ll def have a look at this :)

OP posts:
plumduck · 19/02/2023 08:06

Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:03

I have some broccoli, milk, and 2 sweet potatoes 😂

How many people do you need it for?

Fatandpregnantagain · 19/02/2023 08:06

At the risk of sounding a bit brutal and unsympathetic (I’m not - will come to that later) there’s nothing much you can do. This is where the food bank system has its limits: it tends to have limited opening times and is difficult if you don’t have a car.

In days of yore people on here would have PayPal-d some money but hopefully that won’t happen now as unfortunately there were just too many scammers.

BreviloquentBastard · 19/02/2023 08:06

Do you have a Lidl nearby and £1? I know MN tends to disparage Lidl but they do £1 veg boxes in there. Nothing exciting but plenty in them, enough to make a big vat of veggie stew.

Or anything at all in the cupboards, you may be able to cobble something together with what you've got even if it's a bit random? How many are you feeding?

I'm sorry OP this must be very hard.

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:07

No, our families are brilliant but all in the same boat - it’s me my partner and our 5 year old

OP posts:
Stickmansmum · 19/02/2023 08:07

A plate of broccoli, mashed sweet potato and a glass of milk is a very decent meal, if a little weird. Sorry this is all so hard. Hope you get sorted for today.

Augend23 · 19/02/2023 08:09

Could you pop round to a neighbours and ask to have a small quantity of cooking oil? If you could, roasted sweet potato (and indeed roasted broccoli though the former will take longer than the latter) is pretty tasty.

Won't help if you haven't got the money for fuel though.

plumduck · 19/02/2023 08:09

Stickmansmum · 19/02/2023 08:07

A plate of broccoli, mashed sweet potato and a glass of milk is a very decent meal, if a little weird. Sorry this is all so hard. Hope you get sorted for today.

I think you're just going to have to do this and eek it out between the 3 of you then try and ask the neighbours for some bread or pasta for later.

plumduck · 19/02/2023 08:10

Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:07

No, our families are brilliant but all in the same boat - it’s me my partner and our 5 year old

None of your family have £1 they can lend you until next pay day? When is next pay day?

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:10

It is hard, but I have to keep positive for my daughter - she’s so happy and amazing it’s hard not to smile so at least I have that :)

thank you xx

OP posts:
Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:11

Just got to get to Friday! X

they have helped all they can x

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 19/02/2023 08:11

go and ask for food from a church? They might help, might not, it is variable

but mire likely to get help if you ask directly for food, not money

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:12

That’s a good shout If I can roast them maybe taste a bit better 😊

OP posts:
mumda · 19/02/2023 08:14

Food banks are not as conveniently placed as supermarkets.
How much money would be saved if food banks were abolished in favour of food vouchers for supermarkets?

The transportation of food from supermarkets by volunteers to alternative warehousing and then distribution centres strikes me as a way of making some people feel very smug and self satisfied.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 19/02/2023 08:19

Do you have any staples in the cupboard or fridge? Some pasta, or if not some flour, salt and water will make you a basic pasta. Some butter/margarine, flour and milk will make a carbonara sauce. Add the broccoli and it is a nice vegetarian pasta.

There are basic bread recipes that don't require yeast, just some baking powder if you have that. Or some 'damper' which is some SR flour, butter and water, with whatever spread you might have around.