Food bank

[Bexicles83]

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

Do you have a local Facebook community page? Recently a lady in the same situation as you with a young child posted on our town's community page asking for help, she was inundated with offers of food. Hope you get sorted out this week with your food bank voucher.

Definitely try this OP, someone in my area recently posted asking if people could tell her where & when our local food banks are open and she got about 30 comments with referrals, tips & offers of food. I'm fairly switched on to what's available locally and have used the local food pantry myself but I hadn't even heard of some of the options people mentioned! There may be more out there in your area than you think. Good luck xx

Thanks guys I think I will maybe try this! X

Probably too late for today but see what your local churches offer, one of mine does breakfast on a Sunday morning, you can get a breakfast roll and a hot drink and meet some people who might be able to point you in the right direction for help.

It sounds like you've had this problem for a while, if your family have helped all they can and won't help anymore. You need to look at how to stretch your money further. Shop in cheap supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, don't buy anything corner shops not matter how convenient.

Chase up that voucher first thing tomorrow morning or phone some food banks and see if you can visit without one.

We have a local co op, where the Manager will give free food, no questions asked. More food banks are needed out of working hours, where we live one has just opened for one evening 5.30 to 7.30 on a weekday, the one in our local church is only open Wednesday lunchtime. I would also go to your local church this morning and ask there. Ours takes donations. Our local Facebook group is very good, people will help.

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

Quite...

It's not judgement though. If you tell us a bit more about your situation maybe we can help. As pp said, much better to have a long term solution than last minute cupboards bare with a child to feed. I say this as a single parent who at one point relied solely on benefits so I do understand low income but I would never not have had food in my cupboards so no, not judging but can maybe help you to avoid this situation again.

Exactly this our families have been brilliant but we have to stand on our own now - we want to we just need a little help to get going xx

Where are you based? Mosques often have food banks too and will give out food if you’re in need?

if you’re local to me (midlands) I’ll bring you some food. If not is there a neighbour you could ask to borrow £5 from, make it clear it’s a one off and then maybe stock up on some dried pulses (super cheap and versatile)

Its shit do you have any cupboard food at all have to checked coat pockets bottom of bags ect

Surely they can help you in that case just for today and then you can access the food bank tomorrow? It's good to think of the future and how you can stand on your own going forward but not at the expense of your 5 year old going hungry. I'm sure between them they can scrape together something.

As others said is there anything at all in your cupboard

Always good to have a bag of cheap pasta tubes 50p ish and a jar or sauce /tinned toms for emergencies

If you are on Fb and a local town group

• I often see people do posts like yours and people offer free food

I've brought a bag of shopping before for a lady

Plus as you have a 5yr - do you have help via school and vouchers for food - or talk to pastel care teacher ?

If payday isn't till Friday - will the food voucher referral uou have keep you in food till then

I have literally just done this I’ve checked every single bag for life coat pocket etc 🤣

I'm sorry did your child not get a holiday food voucher from school? I thought all primary school children did.

With a 5 year old child endeavour to always have at very least pasta and tin tomatoes and tin fish, or fish fingers and chips in the freezer. Please when you have a child this is the bare minimum you must have! I know cost of living is absolutely ridiculous the shops and energy providers etc are absolutely taking advantage

Ah just missed what you already said re school voucher and staples

yes it’s the gas and elec that are crippling us as with most - £600 this month 😩

What days do you get child benefit on? Does everyone get it on a Monday, when you do just get the basics and staples

You’ve got lots of good advice here regarding food banks etc so I won’t repeat it.

Going forward, can either of you pick up a shift in a local bar, cafe or restaurant? There’s loads of hospitality jobs available & the bonus is that you often get a staff meal included. It’ll bring in some extra cash monthly for food.

Where abouts are you? I'd happily drop off some food if you were close to me

This

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If you use this link,there's 50p on it straight away.Do a couple of surveys,transfer the cash to your account and you can easily get enough for a few bits here and there to tide you over.It's not megabucks,but I do it all the time when I am short or need a few pounds to cover a bill/direct debit.Do a few surveys and transfer the cash straight away x

*not megabucks

Switch your bank account to another bank which will pay you for switching.

OMG that's astronomical.

Without solar, I would pay £200pcm - how is youre bill so high?

Please take a hard look at what you're using - turn your heating down a notch, turn lights etc off, unplug everything except your fridge/freezer and things you're using. If you use a clothes dryer, try doing an extra spin and using an air dryer - obvs not sure of your housing situ so search energysavingtrust and see what they advise.

I appreciate things are tough at the moment, they'll get better. Good luck x

Not really the point of your thread....but...£600 on gas and electric!!!! Are you heating your house to tropical temperatures? I live in a 4 bed detached and mine is £240 this month because we have not had heating on for more than 2.5 hours a day so that we don't end up with a ridiculous bill (although given a year and a half ago when I paid £80 a month it does now seem ridiculous)