Food banks

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Surely, pensionpat, it should be seen as a good sign that your foodbank is not needed as much. Has it always been like that?

Buddie, of course there is emphasis on whether food banks should exist. They do; they shouldn't in this wealthy country. It is political.

By the way, I quite often put in packs of Green and Black's chocolate. I know that fiver could buy more basics, but I do not see why, just because they are getting food from food banks, it should always be basics or value packs. I help collect, too, for a food bank near me, so know what people give.

sustainablefoodcities.org/campaigns/2015beyondthefoodbank/ourapproachtothechallenge

Here's an interesting idea, beyond the food bank and what people should be doing in their communities to help those who need food banks.

I was also told that our local food bank was quiet recently (back in September, I think).
That set me wondering: A very limited budget will go a lot further over the warmer months, won't it, when heating isn't needed and seasonal foods are more plentiful and therefore cheaper? Therefore, is it reasonable to assume that demand on food banks is almost certainly going to be at its highest in winter, when a huge chunk of a low income can be swallowed up by even very limited heating?

One of our local businesses collects chocolate advent calendars and selection boxes during November to donate to food banks for the children.

DN who volunteers in one said that when they sent out a call to local businesses for Easter eggs for children they were inundated!

It made me very cross to see that enormous pile of parsnips which would be sent for animal feed or ploughed back into the ground - all that hard work growing, harvesting only for a supermarket to reject them as not being quite good enough!
Unfortunately, food banks don't take fresh food, not even potatoes, as I found when I bought a load of fresh stuff to donate. I know better now.

we had been discussing what we could include to make our offerings more seasonal yet still useful,

I would just buy tins and packets of stuff in sizes that a family of, say, 3-5 could use to make meals.
At Christmas you could include packets of supermarket mince pies, Christmas pudding, tins or packets of custard, tinned fruit, biscuits, chocs, other goodies - but not home-made ones.

A Woman's Group of which I am a member, will again this year be running a Pop-Up Christmas Shop, stocking mainly Christmas Toys, Books and Party Clothes. The shop is run on a 'pay what you can afford' basis so that parents/grannies/aunties can, however little money they have, actually choose and 'buy' Christmas goodies for their children and not rely on charitable handouts. The system also allows the better-off to pay handsomely for some trinket and thereby contribute to the cause. The 'profits' or donations after expenses (only PL Insurance and electricity) are divided equally between our two local food banks. Last year they each got 50% of £1,700.

Our 2 foodbanks are like chalk and cheese. One is church run and mainly stocked with food donated regularly by local congregations. It is fairly formal and only accepts referrals from authorities and charities. There is no access for hungry people off the street, a written referral comes in giving the size of the family and their address and a volunteer driver delivers the bag of 3 days worth of food to their door. They operate a 3 referral per family per year policy as they believe this forces the DWP, SW. etc to find more permanent solutions. This food bank has told our group that their most pressing need is for money to buy daily fresh bread and milk to include in their 'nutritionally balanced' food bags but they will accept Selection Boxes, packets of biscuits and toiletries in the run up to Christmas.

Our other foodbank is an offshoot of a Community Group and is very informal. The will give food to anyone who turns up on their doorstep in need, even those with known drug or alcohol problems, however the majority of their customers have been sanctioned or suffer mental illness or disability. There is always a pot of soup and cups of tea on the go there. They do accept home baking and jam and home grown fruit and veg. Every other day they get a delivery from the Community Garden Project. Their main request is also for cash for milk and bread but they are stockpiling Christmas Food for their 'regular' families.

Another thing our Group did was collect a huge supply of basic toiletries, toilet rolls, nappies, wipes and women's sanitary protection which has been greatly appreciated but is seldom donated.

Neither of the Banks has room for toys or clothing and the local Charity Shops (as discussed elsewhere on Gransnet) get more and more expensive. Which is why we think our pop-up shop which enables parents, by their own efforts, to ensure that Santa visits their children and that they have an almost brand new outfit for their Christmas Parties, is such a benefit to the local community. BTW the majority of our stock is donated by the customers bringing in their own kids outgrown or unused books, toys and clothes and 'exchanging' them for something new to them.

Yes, I forgot to say toiletries etc, and perhaps a gift set at Christmas if people can afford to donate one or two or those.

That sounds very well organised Granny23

DurhamJen. It could be a good sign. It could be that the model we are following rigidly does not meet the needs of my town. I think we need to be more creative and flexible. I believe there was much discussion with organisations such as Social Services, Local Authorities before setting up. I don't know if the local people have been consulted in the right way. I am asking questions, tactfully I hope.

MamaCaz. That is an interesting point about higher demand in Winter. I shall soon see. It's got really cold.

Granny23. What an excellent idea. I shall remember this for next Xmas. There are plenty of empty shops. I wonder if local traders would object?

Thank you Rosequartz, Granny23 and others who have offered idea for seasonal donations. I was wondering about selection boxes of chocolates or biscuits and think mince pies rather than a jar of mincemeat would probably be a better idea as you suggest. I already include tinned fruit or fish along with soups and beans or pasta along with dried goods.
I was watching a programme recently where they interviewed people using food banks and one single chap pointed out his only means of heating food was a single gas ring so a point to bear in mind when considering what he could actually use to make a meal.

Our group have always made their donations in November ahead of the Christmas holiday and in July before the school summer holiday as parents will be needing to feed their children a midday meal they may normally have had at school as we assumed these to be the times of greatest pressure on a limited budget. Interesting to hear demand is actually less during the summer months. Might this reflect seasonal work being available for some users of food banks?

Durhamjen, I, too, donate only items that I would use myself. In many cases this comes from basics or essentials ranges as I use them myself. They are perfectly good products and I am not paying for the packaging or advertising. This leaves me to choose fresh goods of a higher quality and indulge in the odd luxury. In terms of my donation, however, it means I donate more items which is surely to the general good. Incidentally, I fully appreciate this is a political issue but I was looking at it from a humanitarian angle and asking what we could donate now to help those currently in need. As I pointed out, the issue will not be resolved overnight and people should not be ignored whilst matters are debated.

Buddie a point to remember is that some children don't get much of a meal at all during school holidays, so perhaps some easily prepared food that an older child could manage for themselves may be a good idea. That's just my thought though, and I think food banks have lists online of what things are suitable.
Cereals too and dried, not fresh, milk.

I have put in tins of, for example, ready prepared chilli con carne which i wouldn't use myself, but I donate them because we can't put in fresh meat, onions etc.

Pensionpat We managed to maintain a good relationship with the local permanent Charity Shops by explaining what we were doing and that we were focussed on Christmas & Children. If we received donations of good adult clothing we passed that on to them (except for Christmas Jumpers). When we closed we re-sorted our stock, taking the rubbish to a £1-a-bag clothes recycler and the best was to the other Charity Shops. Most chain Charity shops will not accept shoes but we did - mainly once worn party shoes and too small Wellies. A couple of the shops even accepted our 'fliers' and passed them on to their customers who were particularly looking for children's stuff. We handed out the fliers on the High Street and outside the Job Centre also via Womens Aid, Home Start, Social Work, and the food banks.

If you are serious about opening a pop-up shop next year please contact me and I'll pass on details of what we have learned from our experience.
I must admit that the Shop was the most enjoyable piece of volunteering I have ever done. Saw people at their generous, human best every day - too many heartwarming incidents to recount here.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.