Food bank rollercoaster. Huge empathy to Fury!! Is it just me?

Blondiescot

Sago

I have said this before and will repeat.
If the donation I make means 1 child will go to bed with a full tummy then I will continue even though the feckless are benefiting.

I'm totally with you on this one.

I will too.

When it's school holidays I will donate food that can easily be prepared by a youngster, although it might not be healthiest, because I know some are left on their own while a parent is working. They don't get free school dinners in the school holidays either.

It is aggravating that there are always people who will take advantage but we have to put that aside if we want to help those in genuine need.

BlueBelle

No of course they are not ONLY for people on limited means but if you are selling (certainly in the kids section) to people who can’t afford the high prices of toys that’s who I like to sell to We keep out prices low to help families and no of course I m not saying anyone like yourself and myself shouldn’t be using it I m just saying it’s not for dealers to then go on and sell at a high price
Perhaps I didn’t express myself well I didn’t in any way say or mean that charity shops are for ‘the poor’ that’s not what was meant at all but truly some toys are out of the price range of many especially with more than one child in the family

I do understand what you are saying, BlueBelle, and can also understand that seeing a struggling parent benefit from a bargain-priced toy would be satisfying.

But at the same time, I think that charity shops and warm spaces etc should be for everyone, or there will be a stigma attached. I don't know how you keep dealers out, but I agree that that is not in the spirit of charity shops.

Similarly, there was an item on something I was watching or listening to the other day about people who 'don't need it' buying several items from the 'reduced' section in the supermarket. It's so judgemental. For one thing, it implies that you (not you in particular) can tell who is poor just by looking, which can't make the hard-up feel good. People will often make a real effort not to look as poor as they are, but it doesn't mean that they won't benefit from a cheap deal. Also, what is the alternative? Having a 'for those on benefits only' section? People would complain about that, too.

I think it's the same with charity shops, and with people giving things away on Freecycle and the like. The items are donations to the cause (or a way of getting rid of 'stuff' from your house, and people shouldn't have to prove anything to take it.

I'm not sure what I think about people asking for particular brands in food banks, really.

maddyone

I always thought people had to be referred to food banks by a doctor or priest or some other reputable person, and I was reassured on Gransnet that this was the case. I did wonder how food banks had grown so exponentially since their inception, but the lack of referral would explain that. I have always refused to give to food banks. I prefer to give to reputable charities and that is what we do. I absolutely refuse to fund the life styles of drug addicts and thieves. My son ran the London Marathon for the London Parks and we supported him by donating. He’s running again next year and his charity will be Children’s Cancer and we will be donating again.

Although food banks are technically open to anyone, you may find that you need a referral to access many of them. This includes all of those run by the Trussell Trust, which operates around half of the food banks in the UK.

www.savethestudent.org/save-money/food-drink/food-banks.html

Food banks will continue to expand as more people realise they can self refer easily.It doesn’t mean that more people actually need it. Human nature means some will take advantage wherever they can

Agree 100% People see the shameless corruption of the sleazy gang in whitehall and ask themselves "why dont I grab a bit for myself". Manipulating the system has become a new form of activity for many. I dont blame them.

I volunteer at a food bank. I don't recognise any scenarios like this. I see families who are desperate, pensioners who have been too proud to ask for help, but due to excessive fuel bills, have no alternative but to ask for help
How do you know they go to nail bars and buy alcohol, do you follow them?

biglouis

*Food banks will continue to expand as more people realise they can self refer easily.It doesn’t mean that more people actually need it. Human nature means some will take advantage wherever they can*

Agree 100% People see the shameless corruption of the sleazy gang in whitehall and ask themselves "why dont I grab a bit for myself". Manipulating the system has become a new form of activity for many. I dont blame them.

So how do you know how these "people" - the "many" - the ones you refer to as "them" live their lives?

The OP didn’t mention nail bars. Where did that come from?

Did she mention alcohol? I thought she only mentioned drug addicts.

Maddyone, no the OP didn't mention alcohol or nailbars, you are correct
I refer to Primrose53 post

biglouis

*Food banks will continue to expand as more people realise they can self refer easily.It doesn’t mean that more people actually need it. Human nature means some will take advantage wherever they can*

Agree 100% People see the shameless corruption of the sleazy gang in whitehall and ask themselves "why dont I grab a bit for myself". Manipulating the system has become a new form of activity for many. I dont blame them.

I do blame them.
It is theft and even worse it’s theft from the poor.

One of our town's food banks has changed its name recently to reflect the fact it's a community hub. Food donated by the big supermarkets to save food waste is available for anyone to take, within reason.
A community fridge has food only just within date and outside the shop are racks of older fruit and bread which disappears quite quickly.
If genuinely in need I am sure you still have to be referred by SS and there is budgeting advice available, tea, biscuits and chat
I donate (there's a list of daily requests, shampoo, tinned food mostly) but also take up to 5 items myself. i am not needy
M&S sourdough bread, chanterelles once and even a tube of truffle paste!
I am saving it from pigfeed/landfill

I volunteer at a community store which is not a food bank but the ethos is to make good food available for all. There's a community.meal weekly free or by donation. A "pay it forward" scheme so you can buy a token which anyone can redeem in exchange for a bowl of soup or cup of coffee.

I don't think YABU if you know that the system is being abused but I believe it's your duty to blow your whistle before you leave.

Volunteering should be two way and if it's no longer pleasant for you then stop.

I work for a Trussell Trust Foodbank and don’t recognise your scenario WWWoW as we take referrals only.
However a small FB opened up in a local village during lockdown run by well meaning volunteers and it was a very different story there from what I heard from a friend who worked there.

I don’t have a problem with people who buy from charity shops and sell on at a profit. I’ve done it myself - I’ve bought Villeroy and Bosch cocktail glasses, a Jenny Packham evening gown, several mid century Swedish glass vases etc and sold on eBay later at a small profit. Such items aren’t reserved for a certain section of the population, and some people make a small income doing such trading. I give loads more to charity shops than I buy from them, I pay the asked price, so the charity gains funds. Same with stuff I give away on Freecycle - if they are dealers no problem.

I too also thought people needed a referral, I also thought there was a limit to how often you could use food banks.
I do find what you are saying depressing, but sadly not really surprising.
A lot of families genuinely need help at the moment, and it’s a shame if that help is going somewhere it’s not needed.
I will continue to donate, it’s a bit like foreign aid, you can’t be sure what’s getting through, but you have to keep trying.

I don't see anything wrong in having ground coffee on a wish list - if a pack of Lavazza has been donated why shouldn't it go to someone who would enjoy it. I don't drink instant coffee and if I fell on hard times and had to resort to a foodbank I'd be very pleased that some kind soul had donated proper coffee.

I think all foodbanks make an effort to give their clients a few treats e.g. chocolates and fancier biscuits to relieve the dreariness of pasta, bread, tinned beans, long life milk etc.

we have one food bank which is self referral and the people who run it are aware of a minority that abuse it but they only provide basic foodstuffs and certainly wouldn't provide luxury coffee unless it was Christmas

the basic point though is that they shouldn't exist in the first place, everyone should have enough money from their income to afford warmth, shelter and food

I have no issue with nicer things being donated and shared, but the impression I got from the OP is that people are submitting shopping lists with only high end items on them, and refusing cheaper ones. I don’t think that users should be restricted to ‘basic brand’ food, but as with lots of things, if some people cream off the best for themselves others will be left with only the cheaper things, which is unfair. I think it would be better not to have the shopping list system in the first place, and share out the goods so that everyone gets a treat. OTOH, it seems a bit pointless giving (say) a jar of olives to someone who hates them. Maybe a bag of essentials each plus a choice of x items on the ‘treat’ shelf might work- that way everyone gets a treat rather than all of them going to the grabby types?

Never before heard of a self referral food bank. Trussell and others have very strict rules and voucher system and only GP, Social Worker, etc can make those referrals.

My sympathy goes out to anyone who is so addicted to drugs that they sell on any food for this habit. I really cannot go along with the idea of the deserving and non deserving poor!!!!

The veryf act that we need foodbanks in what is supposedly the 6th richest country inthe world is what is the really disgusting thing! After all, those who get paid (extremely well), to lead us (our government) have shown that lying and cheating and being downright illegal is the correct thing to do.

Riverwalk

I don't see anything wrong in having ground coffee on a wish list - if a pack of Lavazza has been donated why shouldn't it go to someone who would enjoy it. I don't drink instant coffee and if I fell on hard times and had to resort to a foodbank I'd be very pleased that some kind soul had donated proper coffee.

I think all foodbanks make an effort to give their clients a few treats e.g. chocolates and fancier biscuits to relieve the dreariness of pasta, bread, tinned beans, long life milk etc.

I absolutely agree with you.
I'm another who never drinks instant coffee. If I fell on hard times the luxury of ground coffee would lift my spirits. I too would feel grateful to the thoughtful person who had donated the coffee.

I also help at a food bank (voucher only)and yes clients do ask for certain brands,Heinz, Dove etc. I put this down to international advertising.Many brands are very well known through marketing and surely you would pick a well known brand rather than one you didnt know.

This is the issue with just about all charities. It would be better all round if food banks were not needed and the social system met needs. Even better if people were helped out of poverty by education. I think perhaps this is not the role for you.

JaneJudge

we have one food bank which is self referral and the people who run it are aware of a minority that abuse it but they only provide basic foodstuffs and certainly wouldn't provide luxury coffee unless it was Christmas

the basic point though is that they shouldn't exist in the first place, everyone should have enough money from their income to afford warmth, shelter and food

the basic point though is that they shouldn't exist in the first place, everyone should have enough money from their income to afford warmth, shelter and food

Exactly.

But how did it come about that food banks are now an established institution? And let's not forget - they are increasing in numbers in other nations too, it isn't just us.

I'm pretty sure that low-income families are the very first to feel the pinch after a global food price increase or a global financial crisis. And when governments scale-back the welfare services and benefits that the low-paid rely on, in the name of Austerity, then it's flippin' obvious why food banks proliferate.

And frankly, to focus on the minority who abuse them rather than deal with the reasons they exist is a pretty depressing state of affairs.

I saw on FB - I think it was a copy of a re-tweeted 'tweet' which said something along the lines of, "why do we always ask the poor to tighten their belts another notch... why don't we ask the rich to buy one less yacht instead?"

And yes, I know it's not that simple, you can't just take something from the wealthy and give it to the poor, it doesn't work like that. But it does make you question (well, it makes me question) why we accept such extraordinary wealth gaps. Why shouldn't the wealthy elite take a hit along with the poor?

Shakespeare was right;

"Poverty wants much, but avarice, everything"

Let’s just clear up a few things. there are various types of food banks, those run by the Thrussell Trust where you do need a referral and can only use it so many times.

There are also those run by charities like Salvation Army where you can just turn up as often as you like and are given several bags of groceries. Several churches do this too. British people, I believe, are very kind and will donate excess stuff from their cupboards to a good cause.

Then there are what they call community fridges or local points where shops give close to date stuff, allotment holders donate excess veg and salad to avoid it being sent to landfill.

Thanks for explanation Lumiere.
There are many kinds of food banks as Primrose says. The ones trying to prevent waste are very different from those giving food to the poor.

Except that we try to do both save food from landfill and help out with want and need. Maddyone

I think volunteers do get confused.
Certainly when I invite my middle-class friends to the community lunch they often refuse by saying it feels wrong to eat a meal made for someone whose need is greater, despite my trying to explain that they can pay if they want to.

I think it's a hangover from the Victorian idea of a soup kitchen which we hoped was in the past.

We should definitely be blaming the rich for being rich rather than blaming the poor for being poor.

Shakespeare was right Dickens thanks for your excellent post