Food banks

What would you say are the reasons that people are not coming pensionpat?

Do you have the same thing happening Anniebach??

I think it is time I had a word with those I know who volunteer at our foodbank. I can discern that much food is being donated. So now I am wondering about the take up.

I think our town has hidden poverty. And the foodbank place is in a very public place.

I volunteer in a food bank. There are many volunteers, and local people are very generous with donations. I know that giving 3 days food to a family, plus treats for the children is not solving the overall problem. But to quote a well spoken lady "it prevents the hunger"

A big concern to me is that in my area, small town, not at all affluent, we have far more food than takers. We spread the word in every way that we can, but people don't come in the numbers that you might expect. The food is almost a burden. It needs to be stored in rotation, and we are running out of storage space. Our food bank is a huge machine that is serviced by a dozen volunteers. With what result? Perhaps 3 customers. The effort and good will used could perhaps be redirected. Maybe food banks are not always the best way to help.

I know that things are very different in other areas.

Thank you Tegan, I don't care about the criticism , what matters is people need help. I accept we need food banks but am angry that in 2015 a wealthy country has cause to have them. The poor people who use them feel humiliated enough without scorn, and telling them they have food banks in Germany, France etc does nothing to ease their humiliation

Thank you to those who offered suggestions as to where I might get ideas for donations to a food bank. I simply enquired on here as several people mentioned volunteering in their local one and I thought they might have insight into what is and is not required. I hadn't considered the point made by Mamacaz that very large bags of staples might cause distribution problems for example.

As I am reliant on very limited public transport from my rural location I tend to make my donations via our local WI and we had been discussing what we could include to make our offerings more seasonal yet still useful, hence my query. Ana, I will follow your suggestion and do a search online for more advice.

I was told last week by someone who volunteers in our local food bank that they have a problem when well-meaning people donate huge bags of things such as rice and pasta. They are not allowed to open and re-package such things in smaller quantities, so unless an absolutely enormous family were to turn up at the food bank, they can't give them out (though obviously they do their best to find another charitable group who can use it).

Whether this is just a local decision or a nation-wide health and safety regulation, I don't know. Hopefully some of the grans on this thread will be able to clarify that. In the meantime, it is probably a very sensible idea to check with your local food bank about their needs before buying things to donate.

Maybe it would be nice if some people actually thanked Anniebach for what she's doing to help rather than being critical of her. No, the best will in the world won't do away with the need for them but that doesn't mean we can't 'question' the need for them. Rather a 'let them eat cake' attitude imo.

And Nigglynellie , you have just kicked that political football you so dislike and disapprove of

An up to date list of donations wanted is usually on the internet as well - just look up Food Banks for your county.

Buddie. Cant you walk in to one and ask them?

Also, our local collection points always have a list of what items they most want that particular week.

I'm afraid most posts on this particular forum usually turn into a political football to the point that some of us just don't bother to post anymore as there is always someone ready to regard any idea or belief other than a far left one is next door to a serious criminal offense.
I'm afraid I don't have any ideas for food banks over the festive season, but I do agree that they are a fact that can't be altered over night with the best will in the world.

I came on here to ask a question about food banks and find it quite distressing that in all the discussions there is so much emphasis on whether food banks should exist and whose fault it may be but little of practical help for people who use such facillities.

I am hoping that some of those who are involved in running a food bank might have some practical suggestions for what might be the best items to donate. In the past I have always gone for basics and staples as I assumed these were the items easiest to store and distribute. Indeed our local supermarket suggests tins, packets and jars of food are most suitable. However, as we approach the season of apparent goodwill ( not sure that is shown universally here) I did wonder what more festive items would be welcomed by food banks. Whether we agree with them or not there are many who have what may be short-term issues who are going to rely on their bounty for some time to come. There are no quick fix solutions and people need food now not promises in the future.

Just as an observation on whether there should be advice available as well as food. Whoever it may be provided by, several people have highlighted the fact that a sudden change of fortune may leave people floundering not knowing what to do and what their entitlements may be so providing the help together can surely only be of benefit.

Cagsy, I come home in tears after my hours at the food bank, for some reason the people in such need are not considered worthy of dignity and respect .

I have some involvement in the food bank based at our church and sometimes we volunteers weep at the stories of our client's lives. As mentioned above bereavement, a period of illness, redundancy etc are often where the problems start but they are so often compounded by the awful use of benefit sanctions, which are just cruel.
Many of us (thankfully) can't imagine how difficult it can be when some sort of crisis happens and the people around you are not able to help because no one has any resources, or just have no one to turn to. I'm so grateful that at times in my life I've had family and friends to turn to for help and even more so that I'm now in a position to help others.
Our food bank is also linked to debt advice, help to get back to work, teaching IT skills etc as most people do want to be in control of their own lives and not dependent on food banks, welfare etc. Importantly we don't just hand out food but give people time and a safe place to be able to just talk about their problems without being judged.
I'm pleased we're able to offer this but oh I wish we didn't need to and that people were treated with dignity and respect when they need support rather than punished with sanctions

www.fareshare.org.uk/latest-statistics-show-increased-demand-for-surplus-food/

What Fareshare did last year.

soontobe I dont understand your point Not sure of the ratio of poorer people to wealthy ones. They encourage wealthier ones to get the poorer ones to go. This doesnt sound like a food bank to me.

I think where international aid money goes is a completely different topic.

I don't know djen
We had clothes and shoe banks in our town but they had gone when I went to take things to them last week. I took them to the Red Cross shop instead.
They weren't part of the food bank though.

I think a lot of Britain's foreign aid budget is administered by charitable organisations.

Yes, an interesting link, but it's a bit like saying that all public schools get money from the government. It talked about the Arts Council and the Big Lottery Fund, as if that is government money.
It was also a Scottish link. Any about the rest of the UK?

Yes, I have read it all, but I did not see why that response was deemed childish.

Roseq, I think in County Durham we have two food banks which are also clothes banks. Does anyone know of any more?

Very interesting link, soon.

I have no nits, rose - apparently I pick them from Other People's Posts!

thirdforcenews.org.uk/tfn-news/top-charities-concealing-government-funding

I can find you other links!

Which charities get 50% government funding, soon?

Have you picked out all your nits now Ana?
They can be very itchy if you leave them.


djen I just checked the time and there is a picture of him standing on a mountain of clothes - so clothes and waste in general, not just food apparently.