What isn’t required at a food bank?

I volunteer for my local food bank, one thing we can never accept is any thing with alcohol in it.

LOUISA1523

Most food banks don't take baby formula

Check with your local bank if considering donating formula.

We take it at ours and distribute it most days, even popping out to buy a certain brand if we don’t have that particular one in stock and the baby can’t have a substitute.

Our local food bank does not want anything opened, out of date or short date packages. Some people seem to treat it like a dump. There's a Facebook page that details current needs, maybe your local has one too

Regarding the puppy pads. In case it has not been mentioned before. Your nearest animal rescue home would welcome them.

I was told, admittedly a couple of years ago, to avoid donating pasta, tins of tuna and baked beans because so many people donate that.

I am pleased to see that the things I do give are on the most wanted list.

Most food banks don't take baby formula

I added sun screen for children throughout the summer, along with the usual tinned meat products/meals.

Fanny requirements constantly change, hence we update the lists. Each food bank will be different.

We literally ran out of dog food a while ago, but then received a MASSIVE donation from the Dogs Trust because they knew that we were increasingly being asked for it by our clients due to the cost of living crisis.

We are always grateful for everything that we receive but it is quite soul destroying to know that people’s hard earned money is buying less needed goods when we are desperate for other items.
You would not believe how much pasta we have in stock and need to try to find outlets for.

Thank you NotAGran, that’s really helpful.
I’ll definitely buy more shampoo etc
I’m surprised about the pet food though (pleasantly so)

At the Trussell Trust we published our priority requirements on the website, app and Facebook and it constantly changes.

Everything that we are donated eventually finds a home somewhere. Hair dye would probably go to a local refuge a couple of times a year along with cosmetics etc.

URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS

SHAMPOO
LONG LIFE FRUIT JUICE
LAUNDRY POWDER (NON-BIO)
SHOWER GEL
TINNED MEAT / MEAT MEALS
CONFECTIONARY - E.G. SWEETS, CHOCOLATE BARS, TREATS.
TINNED RICE PUDDING
INSTANT NOODLES / SUPER NOODLES

LOW ON STOCK

TINNED SOUP
TINNED FRUIT
SUGAR (500G OR 1KG)
TINNED VEGETABLES - E.G. KIDNEY BEANS, SWEET CORN, CARROTS ETC.
LONG-LIFE UHT MILK
POT NOODLE
RAZORS & SHAVING FOAM
SPONGE PUDDINGS (NOT CHILLED)
TOILET ROLLS
PASTA SAUCE
TINNED CUSTARD
DRIED MILK
TINNED TOMATOES
MUG SHOTS

WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF

PASTA - ALL TYPES
TOOTHPASTE
BAKED BEANS/TINNED SPAGHETTI
DOG & CAT FOOD

It was a drop off point at the Co-op, so there was no one to ask

I added a lot of sanitary items this week, some of which were open.
So I’m not sure if that was wrong now…
I also put in two boxes of hair dye and a huge box of dog chews.
Likewise, did I do the right thing?
(That’s a rhetorical question )

shysal we pass clothing etc onto other local charities.
It would be best to check with your local food bank first for their advice.
Everything that comes through the doors has to be weighed, stored, accounted for and then distributed.

I heard a lady on the radio from a local charity that dealt specifically with school clothes, both new and pre-loved.
There may be one in your area.

I have started to donate things like roll-on deodorants, toothbrushes and paste, disposable razors, washing-up liquid which if desperate can be used as liquid soap for a shower. I should but keep forgetting to add sanitary products. These items are needed as well as food.

Our food bank no longer accepts frozen food I can see why as they cannot guarantee it has been stored correctly. I had taken a bag of goodies from my deep freeze and they turned it down but suggested I ask the man beside waiting for his food. He was delighted to get it . He kept on asking if I was sure I did not need it .

At the end of the summer I added packs of school uniform items to the food bank trolley in Asda. Did I do the right thing or should I have donated them in a different way?

We have some pads in our store room at our Food bank but you would be better off donating them to an animal charity/sanctuary.

I was going to suggest Olio - great for giving away food and non food items.

You could download the Olio app and offer them on there

olioex.com/ .

Yes, you have to contact each one. Some have no cold storage etc.
Whenever I pass anything on, I think where it will best go. For puppy pads, I would do as you did, charity shop, or animal shelter, or Freegle/ free cycle.

Sorry - in the foodbank wherecI volunteer, obviously!

We take anything pet- related. Maybe another food bank might give you different answer.

Our local Tesco has a cage for pet food etc, not sure if it goes to the food bank or the dogs' home.
It's next to the cage for food bank items.

It depends where you go. One of our food banks would take them if not opened, they take most stuff though