Food banks, community larders and payment

We have something similar in our village which is working very well.
People pay £4 and get £20 worth of goods but certain goods are free.
But it’s amazing the amount of admin that’s involved.
We have about 50 people who come regularly and it’s very much about saving waste as much as helping anyone who might be in need.

My town runs a stop waste food service - items donated by local supermarkets with short use by dates - it's for local people irrespective of whther they need a foodbank or not - the idea is to stop stuff going to waste / landfill. There is no charge but the council owns the premises it uses for a couple of hours twice each week. If you need to cover costs why not accept donations rather than charge - those who can afford can put in whatever they feel is reasonable and those who can't need not worry about finding the money?

Our local scheme charges £5 for membership, you can go every weekday and get 12 items for £4.
There’s a “pay it forward” scheme so that you can pay for someone’s membership or someone’s shopping anonymously. There are wooden pegs in the board next to the till with tickets that others have paid for, you just discretely take one. (The volunteers make sure there’s always at least two there)
They also have discounted “little extras” like milk and frozen goods, - which are bought in and sold at cost.
They use the money for rent of the room, fuel for collecting donations and to buy fresh food staples like potatoes and carrots and fruit depending on the quantity of donations they have.
Anyone can join, no proof needed, but it stops people taking too much too often. Occasionally if they have a lot of a perishable item, like cheese or bread, (last week it was spinach) it won’t count it towards your 12 items and you can take extra.
Everyone here feels the cost is very reasonable, especially with the “pay it forward” scheme.

knspol

I think you can't emphasise enough that it's to stop food waste and is not a food bank otherwise some people would be put off especially if in a small village. Those in need might not want other locals knowing their situation and therefore might not visit. I also agree with other GN's that once there is a charge things can get very complicated. I would not charge but have a box for any voluntary donations with a note as to how donations would be used eg room hire etc. It might be unwise to use any donations for further, popular food items as then it might appear more of a food bank.

This

It's emphasis is to stop food waste.
It's not means tested but perhaps the volunteers can judge how much to give to each person by the amount they have in that day.

People should not be able to just help themselves, or perhaps they could be given a bag to fill; that is shocking, SueDoku!

Our local ‘Community Shop’ charges £2 for 10 items although we don’t turn people away if they don’t have the means to pay. Although it’s run by volunteers and most items are donated the money raised is used to buy extra essential items that haven’t been donated. We always get plenty of food but rarely get items like laundry and washing up liquids and we have a fridge but rarely have anything in it so funds will buy margarine and cooked meat.

I feel charging is difficult, if you go to the fridge, make your donation and (for whatever reason) it contains only 11 or 12 items? That person may complain as she couldn't have her 12 or take 12 on principle...

Our village has one which is, I hear, free and works well - I feel that payments would need another layer of administration. How do you collect it? Who will bank it, sign for it etc? What will it be used for? Will people donating items be happy abouts payments being required? I think it is complicating a simple system which works well elsewhere.

Our local food pantry allows one visit per week and customers are charged £3.50 per visit. For this they can pick up to 14 items. This includes fresh produce.

Prospective customers can self-refer using an online form where they can share as much information about their circumstances as they feel comfortable with. The website warns that not all applications can be accepted.

It's a shame that there has to be some form of vetting but if users could come and in and take unlimited food without giving any info, unfortunately some people would take advantage.

vintageclassics

My town runs a stop waste food service - items donated by local supermarkets with short use by dates - it's for local people irrespective of whther they need a foodbank or not - the idea is to stop stuff going to waste / landfill. There is no charge but the council owns the premises it uses for a couple of hours twice each week. If you need to cover costs why not accept donations rather than charge - those who can afford can put in whatever they feel is reasonable and those who can't need not worry about finding the money?

That sounds like the scheme in my town, except they operate every day in different villages and they use a local church. The organisation itself receives a grant, does fund-raising and I believe has private sponsors. I'd find it a real shame if it started charging and limiting the number of goods I could take. Somehow it would seem like charity, whereas at present it's for everybody. AFAIK nobody abuses it and it's a very friendly atmosphere.

Tattooedfidelma

Our local ‘Community Shop’ charges £2 for 10 items although we don’t turn people away if they don’t have the means to pay. Although it’s run by volunteers and most items are donated the money raised is used to buy extra essential items that haven’t been donated. We always get plenty of food but rarely get items like laundry and washing up liquids and we have a fridge but rarely have anything in it so funds will buy margarine and cooked meat.

I don't think you should buy essential items - you're turning it into a food bank. The scheme I use doesn't have essential items, so I have to be creative with what I pick up and buy essentials (for me) such as milk and eggs. It's something different every week.

I think it's a shame that people don't trust others.

Sadly, growstuff, some have had their trust abused and find it hard to trust again.

Run the pros and cons of charging by a lawyer!

I have a feeling that if you charge, you need to keep accounts the Inland revenue can inspect and that you may be subject to at least paying VAT.

I wonder too if it is legal to sell food donated by shops?

We have a community fridge and items are free to anyone who comes. Volunteers collect three times a week from our local supermarkets.

There is a scheme where I live that covers local postcodes and you pay £1.50 initial to become a member then you can go when you want and take what you need . Local allotment holders donate their surplus produce there as well . The membership ensures that it goes to people in the local area

Our Church has a food bank - and an opaque donation box. The entire process works quite well, it's charity (the food, labor, location).

Make it a local club £10 a year membership - you can use that for running costs. Check membership cards so random greedy passers by don't take advantage (also make sure local people know if the 10 is a problem 'talk to Fred' and they will 'sort something out' (ie the truly hard up get membership for free confidentially).

Germanshepherdsmum

Sadly, growstuff, some have had their trust abused and find it hard to trust again.

I honestly can't see that happening at the scheme I use. There are about a dozen volunteers, who are there all the time and hand out the food. People are limited to one bag. The vicar of the church is nearly always there. He must be 6'6 and I can't imagine anybody would try anything on. He chats to everybody and the atmosphere is really friendly. We swap recipes for the strange things we sometimes end up with. It's only open for an hour, so maybe that helps.

I'm afraid I think it's really sad that people have so little faith in other people. The schemes some people are suggesting sound like something run by poor law guardians.

Your scheme is obviously well established and properly run. I think asking for money when a scheme is set up by amateurs (I don’t mean that unkindly) without sponsorship is asking for trouble as I said upthread. I’m always in favour of keeping things simple. It generally works and avoids headaches.

I know of a village larder in an old phone box. The idea is that if you run out of tinned tomatoes you can go and take some, and in return you take a can of beans or a packet of biscuits. It is unpoliced, but AFAIK works well on trust.

Germanshepherdsmum

Your scheme is obviously well established and properly run. I think asking for money when a scheme is set up by amateurs (I don’t mean that unkindly) without sponsorship is asking for trouble as I said upthread. I’m always in favour of keeping things simple. It generally works and avoids headaches.

I agree with you.

The people behind the scheme I use most definitely aren't amateurs.

To me, it doesn't feel like I'm being handed food because I'm poor. It's always being emphasised that this food would go to landfill if not taken. It usually needs using/cooking quite quickly because it's not the freshest. It's quite fun to come home after I've picked it up and decide what I'm going to do with it and I think if it all became formalised, that aspect would disappear. I'd be quite grumpy, if one week there wasn't very much I actually wanted.

The Fridge for Free in my town, is purely to help prevent food waste. Supermarkets and individuals donate and anyone can take what is on offer. However, strict rules of only one visit per day, and a set number of items taken. There is box for cash donations. All people 'working' there are volunteers who also do the collections from the supermarkets. Shop costs are covered by local authority.

I think either have a tin for donations but not put in a very prominent position. I worked all my life, had no benefits etc etc but at one time found myself with a small child and nothing. It cost me my pride and self esteem to have to go to a food bank but my child was the priority. For myself I would have rather gone without than go there. To find myself in such a situation was quite devastating to me mentally, and although I clawed my way back and eventually sorted things out, I never forgot that time. It is dreadful to find yourself in such a situation through no fault of your own. These days it would have been seen as coercive behaviour, but at that time I did not feel I had anyone I could trust to tell how things were. So mentally, it is really good to label it more as not wasting food where everyone can hold their head up high and feel part of the group rather than the pity of the charity case, in an area where they may be well known and therefore their pride might not let them be part of it. It is a great idea all round and hope all goes well for you

I think a voluntary donation would be ok along the lines of pay what you can. I remember wanting to buy an extra copy of a book my local library was selling that had a couple of pics of a family member in. It was during a brief totally broke phase and I didn't have the 30p it cost. Well I had it but may have needed it for a loaf of Tesco Value bread! I expect there are many more people in that situation these days.

I do think it’s important for people to feel they are doing something good and positive - preventing food waste - rather than being given something as charity. Important for their self-esteem and for the success of this and other such schemes.