food banks collecting in supermarkets

[TotallySociallyInept]

I popped into a supermarket on my way home. Not in the town I usually shop. This town is notorious for it very wealthy residents the whole area is. There was someone collecting for the food bank in the foyer. Lots of people took a list leaflet (they didn't have to, the fb person wasn't in the way or holding them out to people) I took one too. As I went round I tried to get as much as I could afford for the bank. In the past I have come very close to needing a fb. So my heart goes out to people and families that need them especially near Xmas. I'm not at all well off now. But I felt I could do this even if I may regret it later on in the month. I spent about £25-30. I take ages to shop. So when I came to hand over 3 bags to the bank, I was shocked to see the trolleys almost as empty as I went in and the fb person surprised I was giving him bags instead of 1 or 2 items. I wondered if this was normal? if they collect in less affluent areas, do they get more donations because people have more empathy? Or is just me?

Ditto with dancing. If we are given bread we give it to people when they come and get some food. If we are given boxes of chocolates we often open them up for people to have at that time too.

Does anyone know what the reasoning is behind the Trussel Trust's list being so restrictive?

They have limited storage and too much of one type of food, or of food that isn't going to be popular (eg tins of chickpeas - many people have never seen a chickpea in their lives, so wouldn't know what to do with them) is just going to be wasted and take up space they don't have.

Home bake rolls have a longer shelf life, but require an oven to be turned on - possibly for half an hour if it's a crap one that takes ages to get to the high temperatures required. Not much good if you're down to the emergency credit on your meter.

I really resent the implication from some that those that are well off don't only not donate but are arrogant and dismissive with it.

I agree with you, PastPerfect. I'd consider I'm comfortable (not well-off, so much) and donate, but would like more options for donation ideas.
I also shop for some of the homeless people in my area: sandwich, crisps, drink, piece of fruit.

I would hate to think I'm regarded as arrogant and dismissive.

But from a more constructive point of view, how would small boxes of chocolates be received? I was thinking of donating a basket of quality street or similar? With christmas coming I'd like to donate a bit if a "treat"

It depends on the size of the box with us. If it's a large/normal size box we open it and have it on the table for people to have when they come and collect food.

The small boxes with about 7 chocolate in we give out, as a sort of treat thing, in the same way we would be biscuits and cakes.

I think that is the sort of thing which varies between food banks though.

In my Tesco I saw an elderly woman add things to the foodbank trolley straight from her own i.e she hadn't paid for any of it yet! There was no one supervising the FB trolley and I didn't like to tell her. So taking profits directly from Tesco - maybe she did it deliberately.

Pinkje
but also
Usually the trolleys are on the other side of the tills so that rarely happens.

CornChips this is massively OT but you mentioned not claiming for charitable giving in your SA return; the Gift Aid only covers the basic rate part of the tax. If you're a higher rate tax payer you can claim the additional 20% through your return.

Have to say I also resent some of the stereotyping on this thread, but it has turned into a very useful resource!

In this tesco the fb trolley was in the entrance, the aisles of food are to the left, the tills to the right (quite an old layout). She didn't go on to leave the shop with the rest of her shopping. Think she probably had a thought half way round 'that would be good for the foodbank, i'll drop it in now rather than wait to the end'.

Pinkje - that is very funny!
Not so easily done in ours, as we now have to pass through the security system, but I'd be happy to give it a go, if I could

We've had loads of advent calendars - which is a lovely idea. We have also opened up big tubs of Quality Street and will give out others to large families. We'll tend to be generous with treats around this time of year, if we have them available.
One thing we were missing today was tissues. Apparently lots of people end up crying when they turn up for their food, we don't have one box, so we had to buy them from monetary donations.
Extras like toiletries - sanitary products - household cleaning stuff are held in a large plastic tub and people are invited to take 2 or 3 items.
People who stood out during the collection were the elderly and a few young men who were incredibly generous.

Pinkji
That is quite funny

Thanks Tricycle I will look into it!

a while ago and under a different name, I tried to interest MN in a campaign to persuade the supermarkets / Boots to allow people to donate their loyalty points to foodbanks so that they can buy their own supplies. The theory being that most people have about £7 worth of points that doesn't really do much individually, but pooled (& with a meet / match from the retailer to help their corporate social responsibility policy?), there must be a vast amount of money sloshing around unused in people's purses. Didn't get any traction at teh time but you lot seem like a decent audience for the idea. what do you think?

I have been using my local fb for months it's been the only way I can survive thank you all so so much to you all who has given

Whohas - that's so nice of you to say! Thank you. Hope things get better for you soon

Tranmere - I would sign up for that. I don't shop very often in Boots, so points build up without me noticing. Apparently, I have about £30-ish. Would be more than delighted to hand that over. x

In several supermarkets in my area they have two collection trolleys ,one for the local food bank and the other for the local dogs trust.

I have noticed the dogs trust one is always full to the brim sometimes with items placed on the floor beside it. This is rarely the case with the food bank one.

Of course there may be a logical explanation other than a significant number of people have more sympathy for dogs than people..........

whohas you are so very welcome x

Honestly, you try and strike through a kiss as they are Not The Done Thing, and you end up with a star

whohas

one in tesco last week, I gave a couple of items. it's a really good idea.

Does anyone know how one would go about encouraging supermarkets to have a foodbank collection point? I have two supermarkets near me but when I looked into my local FB, it was a 25 minute drive away - which shouldn't be a barrier but being manned entirely by volunteers, is only open for dropped off donations between 12-3, mon-fri. Not great when I work office hours.

Rattle off an email to the Head Office, who should pass it on to the branch in question, but you could also speak to the Store Manager, who would be able to give you an immediate answer. Mention to him/her that you have sent the email, as this is something you and other community members would like to see.

The only thing that worries me sometimes, is that although this week the Trussell Trust were in force and actively collecting so their collections bins were supervised, very often our supermarkets just have unmanned big boxes at the end of the checkouts, where you place your donations. My feeling is that any old unscrupulous odd-bod could just come along and pick things out of them, unchallenged, as no-one would really notice. Not sure what the solution to that is, really.