Food Banks - from the other side

Baggs

Your "Communities Party" chimes with my wondering as I read this thread (so glad you were treated kindly, LOTV, and got things you needed when desperate), what happened before food banks and before government sponsored 'welfare'? I'm guessing members of communities supported each other as far as they were able, though no doubt some still fell through whatever nets there were.

If you want to know what happened before food banks and before government sponsored 'welfare' (why the inverted commas?) I suggest you read some social history. You could start with Engel's study of the working classes in Manchester, read some Dickens, Mayhew, perhaps some reports of 19thC government inquiries into sanitary conditions, housing conditions etc. Maud Pember Reeves 'Round About a Pound a Week' is an interesting survey of the Edwardian working person's family living on what was considered (by the elite) to be a good wage. I know there is masses more that would tell you what you want to know.

All this misty eyed stuff about 'community' is all very well. People will always, on the whole, want to help out their friends and neighbours if at all possible, it's instructive that the people most likely to donate to food banks are those on quite low incomes themselves (more empathy perhaps?) but doing nothing to remove the causes of poverty, to rely on 'community' and charity, is not adequate.

P.S I know just what DasiyAnne is getting at, and it isn't sneering at state help in favour of 'community spirit'. It's about the state enabling communities to be more involved in local planning and decision making.

Lily I'm so pleased you had such a good experience & warm welcome.
Last week I took my next door neighbour to a local foodbank as he mentioned to his daily carer he was having problems paying his heating bills and had to cut down on his weekly shop,he arranged for him to visit the foodbank and I offered to take him.
They have arranged to send him a delivery of staples every week for the next few weeks which is such a godsend to him.

Doodledog

I'm another who is pleased your experience was positive, LOTV. It is disgraceful that foodbanks are needed in one of the richest countries in the world, but it's good that there was one there when you needed it.

Good luck with getting back to where you started from.

Doodlbugs my sentiments completely. Whilst the millionaires become billionaires, the need for such things as charity food banks, etc is a total disgrace. However, with a right wing Tory government thank goodness these are there.

I'm glad you had good experience LilyoftheValley, a few of my friends volunteer at our local bank. I'm in the NE and a young girl has started a 'pet food bank' which is being well used, hopefully people will be able to keep their pets.

Hope life deals you a better hand soon OP

I work in an NHS community team ...we have food bank vouchers we can give out where a need is seen....we can also refer to our local salvation army who can provide £35 morrosons voucher or another l9cal charity who can provide £20 electric top up card.....then we can ( and very often do) refer to baby banks who provide any necessary baby equipment and clothing..... there is also a local scheme with argos where we can refer for a £300 voucher for furniture item.....we do loads and loads of these referrals....seen a massive increase since covid started

Very kind of you to give us this first hand experience, Lily. So glad you were received warmly and hope you will soon be back giving donations. I wish you well.

And no, no one goes away empty handed. For folk who don't/ won't meet criteria, we have a store of nearly- out- of- date goods, and some donations which are " extras" and these ( smaller) parcels contain a loo roll and shower gel etc which are much appreciated !

Kiplet, people are referred to us from health visitors, churches, social workers etc.
There is paperwork/ assessment involved ( undertaken by a community suppoirt worker, not the volunteers).
Twelve weeks of food parcels are then available, the number and make up of each parcel varied, according to the people in the household.
Matters are then reviewed. Drinks and biscuits help everyone feel better but the most important thing is the volunteers welcome. I'm so glad to hear that you had that LOV and I hope that your circumstances change for the better soon

House plant queen.
With reference to you volunteering at a food bank..
What do users have to present to access the food bank ?
Can any one just arrive and receive a parcel ?
Are food banks meeting all the people that are in need ?
Do you ever send people away empty handed ?
I’m just interesting on how food banks are run..etc

I volunteer at a small branch of a foodbank and the over riding message from the people who call in for help is that they will be back when they can; to donate or volunteer

LOTV, your story tells us that we should never take things for granted. I hope you are getting all the help and support you need and deserve.
I also hope sincerely, that your situation improves

What worries me is that as more and more people need to use food banks, fewer people may be able/willing to donate to them. What happens when the donations stop?

Pantglas2

I’ve donated to food banks since I lived in Greece 20 years ago, in Spain for the past ten years and in this country for the last seven years.

It’s a universal problem, I’m happy to give what I can and hope I continue to be in that position.

You are very kind to do this Pantglas2
It really is a universal problem and certainly not just needed here. We could all be in this position at times in our lives.

Your "Communities Party" chimes with my wondering as I read this thread (so glad you were treated kindly, LOTV, and got things you needed when desperate), what happened before food banks and before government sponsored 'welfare'? I'm guessing members of communities supported each other as far as they were able, though no doubt some still fell through whatever nets there were.

I'm so pleased to hear you were looked after and had a good experience LillyoftheValley. I had a coffee with a friend this morning. She and her husband volunteer at our local food bank. She commented on how many more people are coming to them; sadly, I think this will continue for some time.

These days, while I watch agast at the political parties, it keeps coming to me that the thing that works, and always has, is community. Whether it's your block of flats, your road, village, town, etc., amazing people give whatever they can. I think this is because, on this smaller scale, it is easy to believe that while you may be here for someone else today, you can be sure they will be there for you, on a personal basis, when you need it.

You Lily, are typical of this. You were someone who has given when you could. Now many 'someones' are there to help you - and it keeps going round.

If someone started the "Communities Party", I'd vote for that. You can't beat them.

I understand people's embarrassment, but there is no shame in using them - the shame is on the government for allowing a state of affairs where they are necessary.

So pleased to hear that you had a warm welcome Lily and thank you for sharing this with us. It is a very sad situation when food banks are necessary in our wealthy country. I do hope that this is only a temporary change for you and life improves very soon. ?

Yes I have had to use them a couple of times - I was mortified initially but had little choice at the time. Like you I had a very good experience and people were kind and welcoming.

Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m glad that it was a positive one.
It is disgraceful that people in this country have to rely on food banks at all. But if we continue to have a self serving government, I suppose they will only increase.

None of us know when we may need them. I'm glad you've been helped Lily. I always try to remember to donate when I shop

Thank you for sharing your positive experience.

I also donate regularly and am thankful that I can do so. It's reassuring to hear that I would be welcomed should the world turn upside-down for me too.

I hope things look up for you soon.

Glad you got some comfort and friendliness when you needed it, after donating yourself. I hope everything gets back to normal for you.

Franbern

wonderful people run these and donate to them.
BUT total disgrace that the 5th or 6th richest country in the world needs so many of these.
Government members should be hanging their heads with shame

This, absolutely - I love that people are so generous, not only with their donations, but also their time in helping to run food banks, but I detest the fact that they are necessary in the first place, and becoming more so every day.
To the OP, I am glad that you had such a positive experience and thank you for sharing that with us. None of us know when or if we could find ourselves in your shoes at some stage.

I’ve donated to food banks since I lived in Greece 20 years ago, in Spain for the past ten years and in this country for the last seven years.

It’s a universal problem, I’m happy to give what I can and hope I continue to be in that position.