Topic: food banks

[Digeroo]

Can't remember the last time I bought half the things on that list..

  Me too.

For me it is rather a shocking list.  I haven't eaten a tinned veg apart from tomatoes since I was a child.  I have never bought Instant potato or UHT milk.

I suppose the problem with fresh is keeping it that way.  The big supermarkets have very sophisticated systems for keep their stocking rolling through in peak condition. 

I suppose if people in need are provided with the basics then they can use what money they have to buy veg, though I doubt they do.

 

[grawrc]

My goodness - not a very desirable list apart perhaps from the tinned tomatoes as Digeroo has already said. When I donate tinned stuff it's always stuff I'd use myself so tomatoes, sweet corn, tuna, sardines. Stuff like that.I have at the back of my mind an image of growing children and the nutrients they need .. so not stuff like sponge pudding and condensed milk.

We give fruit and veg to a nearby day centre for vulnerable over 50s who can go there and get a good cooked meal every day. (as well as company, activities, warmth, etc) They do a lot of soups so veg is ideal.

The Edinburgh mosque produces very cheap meals too so sometimes get spare produce. I've never been preached at there.

[manicscousers]

http://www.fareshare.org.uk/

[Jeannine]

My view on this is that the concept of food banks is relatively new in the UK. We couldn't find one when we were over there for 8 years. I think the newness contributes to the reason for the list . Sadly the need for food banks is likely to grow and so will the scope of what they can handle. Here they take anything at all if canned or dried, the only conditions are that home canned food is not accepted and food has to  not be outdatesd. As far as I am aware all of them take fresh veggies and welcome them.

There are also soup kitchens here and similar programmes . A percentage of what our gardens grow goes to one. They need veggies of course  as they cook meals and I know there are similar programmes in the UK.

XX Jeannine

[Melbourne12]

I was quite surprised at the limited nature of goods that food banks will take but I guess it all has to be non-perishable/simple.  This is what Trussells take..

Milk – UHT or Powdered
Sugar
Furit Juice
Soup
Pasta Sauces
Tinned Sponge Pudding
Cereals   
Tinned Tomatoes
Tinned Rice Pudding
Tea Bags/Instant Coffee
Instant Mash
Rice/Pasta
Tinned meat/Fish
Tinned Veg
Tinned fruit
Jam
Biscuits

No scope for spare lottie produce there..

Are they all like this - are there no food banks using fresh fruit and veg or I am I being unrealistic.  Can't remember the last time I bought half the things on that list..

I haven't seen any of the documentation yet, but my guess is that there are two main reasons:

First, these are emergency supplement packs, meant to help out overstretched budgets, not a means of providing a complete diet.

Second, I suspect that by so doing, they avoid the attentions of the dreaded Food Standards Agency, who would gladly close down the foodbanks for not having fully hygiene-trained staff and not having three stainless steel sinks per square metre or whatever other ridiculous rules they might dream up.

I've also just realised that we buy almost all the items! 

Milk – UHT or Powdered: No
Sugar: Yes
Furit Juice: Yes
Soup: Yes
Pasta Sauces: Yes, because I'm going to count passata when we run out of homemade
Tinned Sponge Pudding: No
Cereals   : Yes
Tinned Tomatoes: Yes
Tinned Rice Pudding: Only when camping, but still a yes
Tea Bags/Instant Coffee: Yes
Instant Mash: Yes, albeit for specialist breadmaking
Rice/Pasta: Yes & Yes
Tinned meat/Fish: Yes & Yes (I must admit to a weakness for corned beef)
Tinned Veg: Yes (onions, mushy peas, chickpeas, baked beans)
Tinned fruit: Yes, occasionally
Jam: Yes
Biscuits: Yes

So that's 16/18. 

[BarriedaleNick]

I guess you are right about food standards/perishability.  The fareshare org - link that manicscousers posted (very interesting) - has to train everyone in basic FH standards as they use perishable goods.
I just thought that the list was a little short and proscriptive.  It seems the emphasis is on donating money (at least the website gives that impression) so maybe they are buying other stuff in bulk.  I confess that I knew nothing about foodbanks prior to this thread - nor did I realise there was such a need for them.

Thanks for opening my eyes to this..

[irridium]

I have a problem with food banks per se due the main reason why people are in debt is that a lot of people in this country don't really know how to manage their budgets. They go by the status quo and buy what is available right now. They're influenced by the media on foods that are tasty, fresh and healthy and yet, it's all pre-made for you in a form of a tin, carton or frozen. Okay, it's easy for me to be so glib about this when I've been brought up where my dad cooked from scratch (cultural thing) and never used packets, tins or frozen stuff. These days, a lot of parents were brought up on fast-food and so they've passed this mentality to their next generation..

What we need is putting food economics (taught differently though as my home ec. teacher was appalling in the 80s she was so UN-Child-friendly that we just messed about in her class) back on the agenda and make it mandatory that food is key to bring about people's perception to living a healthier life (as well as education in the main, needs to be rehauled!!)

If people continue buying these foods then they will have no idea how to cook even the basics such as sausage cassorole or fish pie, or spag bol and bulk cooking can save loads of money. A lot of people will say that they don't have time anymore to devote themselves to the cooking, but I can't imagine how they warrant such justification on how much time to devote to their TVs or their FB/phones either that they rather spend time supposedly connecting with their so-called friends when they can form better relations with their family and friends around a real dining table real-life??

sorry for being pessimistic here, but there are wider issues surrounding people's spiralling debts... and i don't think food banks is the answer (short-term yes, but not a quick fix)

oh, and btw, i did want to help a food bank out a few months ago when i heard about them in my area and did make enquiries about volunteering (in the end, I couldn't as collections were done during weekdays and I worked) but then realised after much thought, that i came to the current conclusion that this isn't the answer. I've also toyed with soup kitchens but am also put off by the evangelical aspect of it and so, I've not done anything about it since. I may donate my gluts to them instead, that is, if there is any to be had this year!!

[Nigel B]

I have a problem with food banks per se due the main reason why people are in debt is that a lot of people in this country don't really know how to manage their budgets.

Not in today's climate Irridium.
 
It has has much less to do with poor budgeting and much more to do with poor leadership I'm afraid.
It's to do with slave-rate wages. Being taxed almost to death (and beyond). Its high diesel prices for tractors and trucks and the consequent high food prices. Its gas prices running out of control. Its coal, petrol, and anything else petroleum-based. Its the soaring cost of electricity and every item you buy, food or no.

Food banks exist because of the increasing number of people, today's people, not those that worked in the 'easy baby-boomer years' and made plenty for their retirement, but the modern young family or pensioner without who simply can't manage on the money they have.

Times have changed Irridium. We're d**n near starving, and so is a growing section of the public.
My kids can all make meals from scratch, but I'm not sure that is going to change much.

I'd sell my 50" flat-screen tv and facebook/phone for food.... If I owned either. 

[caroline7758]

We struggled to find a food bank anywhere in Leeds for a client last week. On further research we found the Trussell Trust has one, plus another in progress. I hope, as people begin to realise that working people are struggling too, they will support them more, but also ask questions of the government about why so many people are struggling.

[betula]

I think we should all hang our heads in shame that food banks should be needed in the UK 2013.
I feel so sorry for young families struggling to cope with keeping a roof over their heads.
The power bills alone are an unfunny joke.
Good luck to us all.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It has to be food which is easily prepared, which keeps, and is nutritious. That's why there's a limited list. If there are facilities, some might be interested in doing soup; we couldn't at my place because the food gets dumped all over the kitchen. It might be something to think about once we've sorted the place out.; I'm currently trying to raise £34 000 to sort the kitchen out, as there's all sorts of work which needs doing to bring it up to scratch.

[squeezyjohn]

I have a problem with food banks per se due the main reason why people are in debt is that a lot of people in this country don't really know how to manage their budgets.

Not in today's climate Irridium.
 
It has has much less to do with poor budgeting and much more to do with poor leadership I'm afraid.
It's to do with slave-rate wages. Being taxed almost to death (and beyond). Its high diesel prices for tractors and trucks and the consequent high food prices. Its gas prices running out of control. Its coal, petrol, and anything else petroleum-based. Its the soaring cost of electricity and every item you buy, food or no.

Food banks exist because of the increasing number of people, today's people, not those that worked in the 'easy baby-boomer years' and made plenty for their retirement, but the modern young family or pensioner without who simply can't manage on the money they have.

Times have changed Irridium. We're d**n near starving, and so is a growing section of the public.
My kids can all make meals from scratch, but I'm not sure that is going to change much.

I'd sell my 50" flat-screen tv and facebook/phone for food.... If I owned either. 

Nigel B makes a great argument for what I think is the main problem with understanding quite how poor the previous generation have made all of the rest of us through their stealing from the future (I understand that it was the politicians & bankers that did this ... but no-one from the baby-boomer generation complained when it was happening!)

The current generation have been dealt a raw deal when it comes to opportunities in work as real industries have been killed off and the ridiculous number of "telephone-sanitizer" type jobs the baby boomers created have been exposed as ridiculous and useless in times of recession so this country no longer has enough jobs left for the young people - even the ones promised the earth with £20k worth of student debts they were forced to take on if they wanted to study under the current system - so they can work for high taxes to support the retirement of the generation that got free education and health and bought council houses for a few pennies because Thatcher wanted to get re-elected.

Food banks - and also the allotment movement - are both very important ways in which the poorest from the disenfranchised generation emerging in to adulthood at the moment can at least get a little socialist relief from the awful reality of the 40 years of greedy capitalism and financial mis-management from the baby-boomer generation that went before.

Rant over

Squeezy

[goodlife]

I don't have problems with foodbanks..they do a good job and are in need...BUT...

I do agree with Irridium to some degree.
There is LOTS of people out there who just cannot help themselves. They cannot budget their pennies to live frugal way, they cannot make or mend things, never mind able to grow..or willing to even try. I have seen many times how people live with ready made supermarket foods..when these meals could be done in home relatively easily with much less money.
Few years ago friend from work complaned about cost of living..and this hit her hard when she found herself being pregnant.
She's never really learned to cook in school or home, so I taught her to do some basic meals..like how to make bolognese sauce and with bit of 'tinkering' different meals from it.
I think lack of home economics..in old style, is in great need. Lot of things just gets thrown away when they could serve us much longer time with a little attention...or knowing/bothering to look after what we've got so 'stuff' last longer in first place.
I've heard how some people moan how money is tight...but still they have their film and sport channels, they find money for few drinks and cigs...you find they have plenty of spare time  hang around on town. There is generation (or two) out there that think, they  should have 'this and that' goods as standard in their lives..'you cannot have a baby if you don't have/been given' certain amount of baby related 'junk'..the whole attitude of 'I'M worth it', so they must have it even if they really cannot afford it.
YES..there is those who are hard working or retired and cannot make their ends meet..and with many, no fault of their own.
Fortunately I was given good start to life as regarding 'how to make ends meet in frugal way'..but never ever in any stage I was educated on things to do with 'banking matters'. I've been trying to learn and use best of my capabilities to understand when dealing with money matters and other contracts before I put my name on dotted line. Great deal of trust is involved if you don't quite understand what is recommended to you..and that is where things can go badly wrong.

Like with any issue..its not all black and white..there is many backrounds to each reason why life has become hard to manage and foodbanks are just one of the necessary things to help people to get by..but there is great need for kind of education that will target basic management of our lives. And those things that are out of our hands..well..all we can do is trying to help others less fortunate and create 'stink' for those who are the causing the problems, and just maybe the 'stink' will stick and cause some changes for better things to come.
 

[Digeroo]

What I do not understand is why there are jobs available for people from around the world but not the people who live here.

My daughter was made redundant last year and once her redundancy money ran out, things were very tight.  The cost of getting to interviews was enormous sometimes requiring two or three interviews before being rejected.  Yet she needed a car to get to many of them.  Or they wanted her to arrive before cheap train tickets were available.  She had saved enough for a new car  (well new to her)  but in the end spent most of it so would have been desperate if she had not had that cushion.  She also had a supply of veg!

She almost lost her benefits because she did not accept an unsuitable job but finally convinced them of its unsuitability but they more or less told her she had to accept the next offer whatever.  She was also sent on unsuitable courses and a computer one was a farce.   Several of the participants including my dauaghter knew considerably more than the instructor who more or less insisted they pretend to know nothing or she would tip them out and they would loose their allowances.   She turned up a few minutes late to job centre because the whole town was in turmoil due to the olympic torch and nearly lost it then as well.  They seemed to be trying to use every rule to deny her of the little money she was getting and make things as humiliating as possible.  But when she asked to go on suitable courses they said she had too much education and did not need them, so they would not fund them.  Yet another girl was denighed a place on the basic computer course but wanted to go.

She even got a string of nasty letters from the student loan company.   

My daughter is a very good cook and very able at most things yet she found the whole system very difficult indeed.   She got through a lot of tissues and hardly a week went by when she was not in tears at least once.  She now has a good job.  Then she had to pay for her food etc and getting to work for a month until she was paid.

But I would not like to judge anyone who finds they cannot cope.

[grawrc]

I don't think it is necessarily helpful to look for scapegoats or to apportion blame. It dissipates the energy available for fixing things and making them better.

My response to the way things are is to think what can I do, on a personal level, to make things better. I am appalled that we need food banks and soup kitchens in the UK but since we do need them let's embrace them and make them work. And let's not judge the people who use them. For the few that take where there is no need, there are hundreds more who wouldn't get by without their assistance.

What truly disgusts me is corporate greed and the amorality of many of our political rulers.

[Paulines7]

I don't think it is necessarily helpful to look for scapegoats or to apportion blame. It dissipates the energy available for fixing things and making them better.

My response to the way things are is to think what can I do, on a personal level, to make things better. I am appalled that we need food banks and soup kitchens in the UK but since we do need them let's embrace them and make them work. And let's not judge the people who use them. For the few that take where there is no need, there are hundreds more who wouldn't get by without their assistance.

What truly disgusts me is corporate greed and the amorality of many of our political rulers.

Good posting Grawrc

[manicscousers]

Thanks, Anne, you've said it all, let's get some compassion back 

[Squash64]

Thanks, Anne, you've said it all, let's get some compassion back 

I agree.

[caroline7758]

Well said, Anne.

[Jeannine]

Werll done grawc

I have seen far too many folks here who try their best and end up struggling. Redundancy can put folks is big trouble fast. We have friends whose house is paid for but they were hot hard when the copany they both worked for moved provinces. Even with no mortgage their nest egg was gone very fast, they ending up selling the home they helped build and moving into a tiny place, both too old to start new careers they had to take early retirement so they only reciened 45% of their first government pension, the second one they were not even able to get till they were 65.. they were raising two garndchildren too. It was heartbreaking to watch them go down. They refused help and soold their assetts. Had they not had a house they would have been in foodbanks for sure and they were decent hardworking folkks who didn't waste, drink or eat ready dinners.

There is too much of the above,  one cannot be judgemental, it can hit anywhere and anyone, not of us are immune whatever we think about our own situation..

We know of several menatally chellenged folk who have been put back into society after "rehab" , sometimes after years of being ina a hospital, they have no means of knowing how to cook or budget well and the food bank is a lifeline.

No, I don't think  judgement is  for this situation.

 There are many foodbanks in the US, considered one of the richest countries in the world, here in Canada and the Uk where the welfare system is supposed to be wonderful.

Our electricity bill was $385 this last time for just one month and gas bill to come yet, house insurance is $1400,house taxes almost $5000 , we are all OK but if folks have lost their jobs and have a house with bills like that, plus a mortagage which most folks have it can go sour very fast.

What more can I say.

Sorry fot typos, hurting a bit and in a rush

XX Jeannine