Giving away food/supplies - some questions for preppers

[KeepScrapingBy]

I'm not a hardcore prepper but have always gathered a stash of essentials in the run up to Y2K, Brexit, lockdown etc. I did the same before my 2 children were born as I knew it wouldn't be so easy to get to the shops. Knowing I have a stock of non-perishables in the house makes me feel calmer!
In the current situation with empty shelves appearing and a shortage of lorry drivers, do you plan to give stuff away to those who need it? For example, to an elderly neighbour who can't get to the shops.
What would you do if somebody knocked on your door asking for food? Is this likely to happen?
Do you tell people you have a stash? (I haven't, I'm not keeping it a secret, I just haven't told anyone because nobody I know talks about it.)
Do you make a donation to a food bank? (Not saying you should, genuine question. We have done on a few occasions)
Sorry, that's several questions!
I would feel guilty saying No to anyone who knocked on my door. On the other hand if I gave things away I would feel a bit unsettled knowing there were people who were desperate enough to ask.
Do you think that people might steal from you?
How do you deal with this dilemma?
Thanks in advance!

I doubt very much that anyone would go round door-to-door begging fir food. And if anyone did, I'd be much more likely to point them in the direction of the local food bank.

I don't see why anyone would know what level of supplies I keep in the house, so don't expect to be targeted.

If someone I knew was in need, and I could help them with that need, then of course I'd whatever I could. That's not food specific, or crisis specific, it's general neighbourliness and friendship.

Yes, I donate to a range of charities

In the current situation, yes, I would help if I could.

I would definitely help out my own family and good friends if I was able to. My neighbours are Mormons so I would be more likely to knock on their door than they on mine. I would keep an eye on the elderly gentleman the other side and help if I could. I would not hand out to random strangers however as I think if the situation got that bad it would be dangerous to do so. I would more likely go grey man (women). First rule of prepping and all that!

Sorry, I only answered first question. I do donate to a food bank already. Set myself a challenge at the beginning on the pandemic as work started feeding lunch to its staff, free of charge. I just passed on their good will to those in need.

Thanks for the replies. It’s something I’ve been wondering about.
I can’t imagine people going door to door begging either and let’s hope nobody ever feels they have to do that But preppers prepare for all sorts of extreme situations.
What’s grey man, EzzieLove?

I tell no one. Occasionally donate to food bank.

Grey man means don't look conspicuous. As a menopausal woman, I already have an invisibility cloak because everyone underestimates/ignores us anyway

Courtesy of brexit i started prepping. COVID showed me where the gaps were. I now think I have a system where everything (shelf stable) is rotated, so i am finally in a position to use the spare items in the online weekly food delivery to top up the food bank requirements.

This section guided me through the process brilliantly

No one knows our prepped food situation.

I occationally donate to local food bank.

I would help out select people if they were in need but only so much as ive prepped to ensure we have what we need and wouldnt want to a. Advertise our preps or b. Leave ourselves at risk of running out

Not told anyone except family. Wish I had not told them. I have been telling them I have used it up after Brexit.

Would give somethings to some people. Will help my neighbour next door.

I have contributed to the food bank but lost my easy way of donation so not at the moment. Once I find an easy way to add a few bits I will. (Disabled,lowish income)

Thanks for the replies. Bellinisurge, thanks for the explanation. I see what you mean about the invisibility cloak!

I dont tell anyone I prep so no reason to think anyone would ask. I have four kids and I have learnt that I need to look after them first as no one else ever considers there needs.

I donate to the food bank anyway when things are in need. But I tend to buy and donate in the shop.

Yes, during the first 'hard' lockdown I supplied an elderly neighbour with stuff like loo rolls, as she was suddenly shielding and on her own.

I gave a lot to our local food bank last summer and again prior to Xmas, as well as being able to help out younger family members with 'Christmas boxes'.

I was shielding myself and didn't really go without.

(And yes, I actually like (gluten-free) pasta and tins of tomatoes with jars of black olives & jalapenos )

If we get to the point of rampaging neighbours, I give up, I really do.

If you like reading I suggest you read Steven Konkoly’s The Jakarta Pandemic. I’ve read a lot of books, but this book is easily one of the best and describes very well how people will ’knock’ on your door and ask for food. Such a good book and actually opened my eyes a bit. It was written before covid.

@bellinisurge spot on 😬

’I doubt very much that anyone would go round door-to-door begging fir food. And if anyone did, I'd be much more likely to point them in the direction of the local food bank.’

@AuntieStella sadly it would take much less than we think for enough people to not even knock.

I tell noone but some know I am ‘organised’. If someone I knew told me they’d struggled to get XYZ, I would probably pop over with it if I had it spare and just say ‘it was at the back of the cupboard, thought of you’.

I do actually keep a couple of spares of things I don’t use for myself specifically for others who may need it (I do not hoard it or buy it in scarce times to note!!) such as a bottle of calpol and extra feminine hygiene products. This was triggered by my sister needing medication for her baby at the beginning of the pandemic and not being able to get a single thing. I would give it freely to anyone who needed it.

I rotate my stock, if it’s heading towards 3 months left then I donate it to the food bank if I know we won’t eat it in that time. Turned out in the first lockdown most of my neighbours are secret preppers, so we’d do food swaps, or vegetable plants swaps for eggs etc. It worked really well.

I would help family but as we are all essentially the stock up type we would all help each other