Upset, annoyed, and well sad really

[Mellowyellow83]

So here goes, I’m a failure. I have been very ill recently - and as such I haven’t been able to work. I’m so broke, I mean reallr broke. I’ve had a food bank referral following a call with CAB yesterday - but they aren’t open until Wednesday morning. I have nothing now money, nothing in the cupboard, my electric is going, oh and to top it all of today is my birthday. I’m ranting. I just feel so so rubbish, I can’t provide for my child because my head doesn’t work properly.
i thought with this being my 42nd birthday I would be in a better position than this.

Hope this helps also - free drop in cafe.

NRFT but my advice is go onto the Facebook page for your local area and post anonymously asking for people to help you out with food for today. People often do this on our local Facebook page and loads of people always offer to help, myself included. You can ask for people to private message you, so you don't need to discuss further details publicly. If you really are this desperate and you obviously are if you don't have any way of feeding your child tonight, then this is a way to get food quickly. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of in asking for help, hard times can happen to anyone, I've been there myself.

Yes go here before 2 if you can and take something home for your child?

Download the OLIO app - which is an app to mitigate food wastage. Items on their last ‘best before’ or ‘use by’ date are collected by food volunteers from supermarkets and made available free of charge for collection. Tbe app is designed to be hyper local so you can walk to pick up the items.

Note: OLIO isn’t about need, just about avoiding food waste

“my Cupboards are really very bare”

Very bare or empty? For example, do you have any sugar? Any cereal remnants?

Maybe post anything you do have and we can make some suggestions

Just remembered, there's also an organisation called Free My Meal, which was started by a lady near Guildford just after lockdown.
They have a Facebook page through which you should hopefully be able to connect with a meal donor.

https://freemymeal.co.uk/

facebook.com/groups/freemymealguildford/

Can you get a hardship loan from UC? You just need to call them and explain the circumstances. If it gets approved you should be able to get the money today

You have received lots of practical advice which I hope helps you. Sorry everything is so shit at the moment. It will get better. I do wish I didn't live 200 miles away or I would happily get you a shop xx

i said this earlier about local Facebook

I have often brought a bag of basics for people locally

I try and help those who need it as one day it may be me needing help

There might be another foodbank you could go to which is open today where you don't need a referral. Looks like people might have already found one. Well done, MN. Hope you get sorted out, OP, and that they have a nice piece of cake for you too xx

There’s no shame in using apps like olio! As previously mentioned it’s to fight food wastage, my local page has people from all walks of life requesting items. Happy birthday :)

Hope you get some help from the Salvation Army.

Other than that, look at Apps, Olio, Too Good To Go both do reduced food. Depending where you are, city or rural, they have foods in coffee shops/supermarkets.

I have been where you are now. Having a single slice of low-value bread with salt and pepper on it as my main meal, feeding the dog instead of putting heating on, etc. It won't always be this sh~t, I promise. As well as the excellent advice already given, please can I suggest that you contact either StepChange: StepChange Debt Charity. Free Expert Debt Help & Advice or CAP: Debt help | CAP UK (they aren't preachy and won't try to convert you to anything). I contacted the latter after an extremely public and widely-broadcast admission (awkward) of my troubles which ended up bringing much useful advice my way. Both are free services and genuinely helpful.

You are not a failure. You are someone who has found themselves in a wretched place. But you can make it out. It's hard to see clearly from the bottom of the pit, I know, but you can climb free.

Very best wishes to you and your child for the future. Stay strong - you can make it. Hope you have at least some smiles on the rest of your birthday. x