To anyone who has ever donated to a food bank...

[ThrowThoseCurtainsWide]

Thank you, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you

The DCs and I left our family home this week. as we were fleeing domestic violence. It's been a really shitty week, but thanks to all of your food bank donations our cupboard looks like this. The volunteers there were so welcoming to me, gave me tea, checked I was okay and they're going to make sure there are some bits waiting for me next week that weren't available today.

I've been overwhelmed by the generosity of people. Friends of a friend have given us bags of toys.

If you ever lose your faith in mankind, remember that the kindness of strangers has provided food and happiness to my children this week. I couldn't be more grateful.

Thank you

[BellMcEnd]

Brilliant thread! OP - all the very best to you and your DCs.

I love that Ocado have a system for on line shopping donations. I do my bigger shop on line at Tesco and have suggested this sort of system a few times when asked for feedback.

Your suggestions for what to donate are very helpful (and from those who volunteer(. I taken screen shots so that I can get some of these next time I actually go into a store

[LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD]

So many supermarkets have collection points but also remember that’ll trussel trust has loads of local drop off points. With school holidays looming families often need a bit of extra help to feed the children who would normally rely on school lunches and breakfast clubs. And a few cremw eggs wouldn’t go amiss.

[LewesHamilton]

Looks fantastic. So happy for you and your little ones.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

Thanks for the thread, op.

I volunteer in a food bank and it is great to hear from clients.

If you donate 'off list' items we do our best to match it with someone who needs it. If it doesn't match a client it goes on the 'help yourself' shelf or we pass some items off to other community organisations. Hardly anything goes to waste (I have told the story of our long term doorstop, aka catering tin of prunes :) )

Donate anything, most banks will be able to find a good home for all goods given.

[MrsMozartMkII]

So glad you're safe and you'll ber okay for food lass.

Thank you to those who've put suggestions as to what's needed. I tend to get stuck in a rut and do mainly the pasta and rice, with biscuits and small bars of chocolate.

[Ragwort]

I've mentioned this before on these threads but please check with your local Food Bank about what is actually required.

We tend to get inundated with certain items (pasta, rice, soup, baked beans, tinned tomatoes and san pro) but are desperate for other items.

All Food Banks will be different so please ask locally.

[Dancingdreamer]

Thanks to your incredibly moving post, I today donated to a Food Bank for the first time. I had never considered doing so before. I will do regularly now in future.

[ThrowThoseCurtainsWide]

dancingdreamer Thank you I promise you it will be going to good use.

I can't switch off, so I'm doing housework and about to eat some of the food I was given. I bought plastic storage drawers today in an attempt to organise my possessions into something other than a heap on the single bed that nobody's sleeping on because we're all in the double together

[JoMumsnet]

Hi, we've had a lot of people nominating this lovely thread to go into Mumsnet Classics. We've checked with the OP and are going to move it over there now.

Thanks so much for posting such a moving and inspirational thread, ThrowThoseCurtainsWide. We really hope things continue to look up for you and your DC.

[ThrowThoseCurtainsWide]

I know where to come if I ever need a little lift. Also, I now have teabags so I can make you all a virtual brew

[notsodimwit]

What a lovely thread and for you op. I pop one item in the collection point every time I go into my local Supermarket, it may not be much as I struggle myself most weeks but it all mounts up and is for such a good cause. You never know when you might need help yourself.

[Honeyroar]

Can I ask those involved with food banks whether they accept pet food? My cats have suddenly started turning their nose up at their regular tinned food and I would usually put it in the local rescue’s donation bin, which is alongside the food bank bin at the supermarket, but it’s overflowing and I’m sure some people who need food banks must have pets.. I’ve about 25 tins!

[ColdTattyWaitingForSummer]

@Honeyroar I can’t speak for everywhere, but our local food bank definitely takes pet food, and it is always gratefully received by clients.

And OP for you. I started over a few years ago, after leaving a difficult situation, and it was tough at first, but I’m so much happier now. xx

[GayParee]

This is a weird one but I have loads of hair dye I'll not use (new in boxes but won't cookie), could this be considered an extra and would a food bank take/give it?

We have a food bank collection point at Church which is great as you walk past it on way in so makes it easy to give

[ThrowThoseCurtainsWide]

They asked me if I needed pet food at the food bank, so they must accept. We had to leave DDog behind.

As for hair dye, I have no clue, mine only had shampoo and no conditioner. I will deffo be adding conditioner to donation boxes when I'm back on my feet x

[OhTheRoses]

I always give chocolate and mini bags of haribos I have convinced myself that they must be overwhelmed with sensible donations and that everyone needs a little treat.

I wonder too whether envelopes with stamps on might be helpful?

[Honeyroar]

That's good to hear, I will drop it off.

So sorry you had to leave your dog. I fostered a dog for someone last year who was going into a refuge.

[AlbertWinestein]

Firstly, congratulations to you for having the strength to move on and up in your life. That’s fantastic and may your children always know how brave you truly are.

Im not UK based but our local supermarket offers food bank vouchers and bags at the till. $25 is a decent bag of supplies for a family of 4. You add it to your shop and they drop them at the food bank. It’s a really easy way to donate weekly and, because you see what’s in the bags, reminds you how much these families need it.

[ThrowThoseCurtainsWide]

Albert that's a great idea! I do think there needs to be some sort of drive in the UK to publicise it a bit more. Sometimes the donation boxes are hard to spot, or even a reminder as you enter the store 'food bank donations collected here' so that you remember to grab something before you're at the checkouts

[Theoldwoman]

All the very best to you OP! You are a legend! x

[TomorrowsDiet]

Wishing you all the best OP. I usually put some puddings/jelly desssrts into the food bank baskets at Tesco when I do my weekly shop. I hope a treat item makes someone smile 💐

[choirmumoftwo]

Our church has started having a FoodBank Sunday once per month so there's a specific focus for donations. Someone always checks what's needed most at that time but everything is gratefully received. Always on the wanted list are UHT milk, tinned potatoes and other veg, tinned meat (many people in temporary or emergency accommodation have access to a microwave but no hob or oven) and toiletries including nappies and wipes.
At this time of year, Easter eggs to go in a parcel as a treat.
Good luck to you OP.

[myexisanasshole]

I have a load of nappies spare, would they be accepted?

[Ragwort]

At our FB we never turn any donations away (tried to once refuse a donation of prescription medicine but the doner got arsey so we had to arrange to dispose of it ).

Pet food, nappies, hair dye etc would be welcome. It is always worth checking at your local FB to find out what they will actually accept as different FBs have different requirements. And please don’t just assume that every FB wants Easter Eggs at this time of year, we tend to get overwhelmed with them, which I appreciate is very generous, but then we have to arrange to give them away to alternative organisations.

[AuntieStella]

The thing to remember about Easter and Christmas is that you need to make your festive-themed donation a good 2-3 weeks before the event (if you want recipients to get stuff on time)

I don't usually give Easter Eggs, but do put in Christmassy foods in early December.