The Foodbank Donation Thread

elsien

Specsavers recycle them. 

I think the logistics of matching up frame size, prescriptions and people would make it unworkable for the glasses to be used elsewhere.

https://www.specsavers.co.uk/glasses/recycling

Brie

I was told years back that the glasses recycled to opticians are sent to charities overseas to match to customers there.  I always try to recycle mine but am not sure how useful it is as I have a very wonky prescription.  But even if the frames can be used that's fine.  And perhaps the regrind the lenses too.

elsien

I was told that as well, but Google seems to indicate that’s no longer the case. Even vision aid abroad recycles donated glasses in use the money raised instead to help their work. 

arh

Why not make a regular bank donation to a food bank, if you can afford it. It saves trying to remember to buy the needed items and can be gift aided for many food banks. If you then do your tax return you can claim your tax back on all your gift aided donations so it also costs you less to donate

General_Grant

arh said:

Why not make a regular bank donation to a food bank, if you can afford it. It saves trying to remember to buy the needed items and can be gift aided for many food banks. If you then do your tax return you can claim your tax back on all your gift aided donations so it also costs you less to donate

Benefits you if paying higher rate tax, not a basic rate taxpayer (difference between standard and higher rate) as it is the charity which gets the standard rate tax.

MSE_ForumTeam3

Has anyone heard of Bankuet, an app for making food bank donations? It's new to me - any thoughts would be very useful. Thank you.

beanielou

MSE_ForumTeam3 said:

Has anyone heard of Bankuet, an app for making food bank donations? It's new to me - any thoughts would be very useful. Thank you.

MSE_ForumTeam3 said:

Has anyone heard of Bankuet, an app for making food bank donations? It's new to me - any thoughts would be very useful. Thank you.

Not heard of that one. Sorry 

Kentishfilly

How to help find out what your Foodbank needs - maybe
Hi, I help out at our local Foodbank and we have seen huge increase in demand due the the cost of living crisis and also a definite drop in donations, as folk can no longer afford to put in the donation bin at the supermarket.  We now try and encourage supporters to use the Bank the Food app - (if you have a smart phone) and it operates very simply on a traffic light system.  If you enter the name of your nearest Foodbank, it will show you in red (urgent) amber (needed) green (running low) what items they are hoping for.  It does't record if you donate if you change your mind but it always gives an idea of what is most needed (most things now, tbh)  Also, our local Morrisons has just closed, so that will add to a drop in our donations.  Any help is always gratefully received and we do our level best to insure it goes to the people who need it the most.  We also need strong carrier bags and Bags for Life, we get through a lot!  
   Just a shout out for Tescos - they generously give the Foodbank 20% on top of all donated food, which is great.  

TeddyBear45

I always donate extra bags if I have them.  It’s harvest festival at our church on Sunday.  While they always have a food bank donation box, there’s a drive for extra donations.  We are short on money so tend to stock up when things are on offer.  We’ve filled a bag from our cupboard of things we can spare, and I’ll add some toiletries too.

Cherryfudge

I've just seen this article promoted on MSE - 'coupon fairies' are people who donate coupons they can't use, or leave them on the shop shelf next to the article the coupon is for.

It occurred to me that this might be something people could do if they have a voucher they can't use: it's not food bank but it might help someone. It might also be worth checking if your local foodbank can use any, as they will have to buy in some items so a couple of pounds off a larger spend might stretch their funds.