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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:
nutellalover23 · 19/02/2023 08:19

Can u call the bank and maybe ask for some overdraft fee's back or a one off gesture?

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:20

I think you are so right x

OP posts:
blitzen · 19/02/2023 08:21

Do you have any Tesco Clubcard vouchers to use up?

Nimbostratus100 · 19/02/2023 08:23

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.

hundred percent agree

food banks are such a huge waste of time, energy and resources, and make the problems worse.

And the worst of it is, I see people thinking along the lines of... "o gosh, poverty is bad, I had better do something to help, ok, I have donated to a food bank, duty discharged..."

and they havent helped at all, but gone on their merry way thinking that they have helped more than enough and dont need to bother themselves about the situation any further

I hate food banks

bellac11 · 19/02/2023 08:23

Have you got any jars of spices in the cupboard, you could cook up the sweet potato and broccoli in the milk with the spices for a sort of creamy curry, use all of the broccoli of course even the stem

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:30

I had £1.50 but used this the other day!!

OP posts:
Overthebow · 19/02/2023 08:31

Broccoli and sweet potatoes are good. Do you have any rice or pasta? Or 50p to get some (or ask neighbours, I’d happily give some to my neighbours if they needed). You could make sweet potato and broccoli rice/pasta, or baked sweet potato with broccoli. Should be fine until tomorrow when food banks open.

Overthebow · 19/02/2023 08:32

And yes use the broccoli stem, don’t throw it away!

Aposterhasnoname · 19/02/2023 08:35

Don’t any of your family even have some food they can give you, even just a bit of pasta or some bread and a tin of beans?

Pawtucketbrew · 19/02/2023 08:36

While I sympathize with you, I think the bigger picture here is that you and your partner are adults with not even £1 between you and a child you are responsible for so hopefully you can put something in place so this doesn't happen again.

Short term all you need is a bag of pasta and a cheap pasta sauce which can be got for £1 in Aldi or lidl. With some butter on too it should be filling enough to keep your daughter going.

Have you got anything you can stick on marketplace now eg item of clothing or toy, price cheap to sell and get a couple of quid for the weekend.

TaRaDeBumDeAy · 19/02/2023 08:39

Would soup go further than roasting it?

Have you got stock cubestherbs/spices? Or cornflour to thicken it?

LostAtTheCrossRoad · 19/02/2023 08:40

In my town there are a couple of community food resources that are not food banks. One is a community charity food rescue hub, and there are two church run food pantries - one in the official pantry scheme and one not. Google terms like "food pantry in X town", "food hub in X town", "food rescue in X town", "food reuse in...", "food charity in...". Also Google and see if you have a local Sikh temple nearby, our local one will provide a simple meal most days of the week. If you're friendly with your local pub landlord and they do Sunday lunch, ask if they would consider giving you any of the cooked but not served bits if there are any left at the end of the service, ours would.

AtleastitsnotMonday · 19/02/2023 08:42

Can you google community larder. There is one near me that is accessible 24/7 and people but in food they won't get through but don't want to waste. Check out every local freebay type group. Around here there are always people giving away bits e.g they bought a packet of 6 yoghurts but don't like the flavour.

Any neighbours you could ask for say an egg? My neighbour knocked my door yesterday in the middle of making a cake but had dropped an egg on the floor and was one short. I was happy to give her one.

Anything you could sell on facebook? Any unused gifts you could return to store?

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:46

I’ve found a normal potato too so I’m gonna Chuck that in and make a soup :)

OP posts:
Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:47

Thanks :)

OP posts:
wishuponastar1988 · 19/02/2023 08:48

Do you have a local area Facebook page? On ours there's people who volunteer at the food banks who can help out outside of office hours. Could you post on there and ask? Can you ask a neighbour?

Ragwort · 19/02/2023 08:49

I'm a FB volunteer, we have a number of our web site and if someone called us and was desperate we could meet them and give them an emergency supply, however, sorry to sound brutal, we find it frustrating when people leave it to the last minute and haven't made any attempt to help themselves but are just relying on the goodwill of volunteers. I have delivered food to peoples houses in so called 'emergencies' when it is clear that buying food and feeding their family is not a priority (not saying this is you OP). We have arranged to meet people who are 'desperate' for food and they just don't show up. And sadly, the reason why it is rare to give supermarket vouchers is that they don't always get used on food.....

We are an independent FB, I understand other FBs may not offer this service.

endoftheworldniteclub · 19/02/2023 08:50

Pawtucketbrew · 19/02/2023 08:36

While I sympathize with you, I think the bigger picture here is that you and your partner are adults with not even £1 between you and a child you are responsible for so hopefully you can put something in place so this doesn't happen again.

Short term all you need is a bag of pasta and a cheap pasta sauce which can be got for £1 in Aldi or lidl. With some butter on too it should be filling enough to keep your daughter going.

Have you got anything you can stick on marketplace now eg item of clothing or toy, price cheap to sell and get a couple of quid for the weekend.

This. Surely your cupboards are not completely empty, there must be something. And your family don’t even have £1 for a bag of pasta, or absolutely nothing in their cupboards either?

FlemCandango · 19/02/2023 08:50

www.foodaidnetwork.org.uk/our-members

gogohmm · 19/02/2023 08:51

Do you have a gudwara near you, they provide food for all those who come, you don't need to be Sikh, but you need to dress modestly and remove your shoes. I've eaten at several (professional capacity) and been made incredibly welcome

thankyouforthesun · 19/02/2023 08:51

I was just going to say neighbours. My cupboard is full and if you were my neighbour I'd sort you out what you wanted for dinner, I'd wish you asked me. You can always do them a favour back, feed their cat, keep an eye on their place when they go away.

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:51

Thanks for the judgement guys 👍

OP posts:
FlemCandango · 19/02/2023 08:52

The above link is for the independent food aid network, the page has a resource for money advice and a link to their map of food banks in the UK that are not part of the Trussell Trust. You can do a postcode search.

Original poster
Bexicles83 · 19/02/2023 08:54

Thank you

OP posts:
gogohmm · 19/02/2023 08:56

You could also go to church, rarely can they provide a full meal but you'll normally get hot drinks and biscuits following the service, which is something, and they might have a food bank collection box they can fetch something from, we do this most weeks for someone in your situation, no judgement at all. Please note that it's pot luck what people have donated that week as far as the collection box. If by chance you are near me I have 2 cans of macaroni cheese bought for my student daughter that she now doesn't like, was going to put in the food bank box but if you are near you can have them