The Foodbank Donation Thread

sams247

I have donated to food banks in the past.......... and this month, for the first time, I have had to use one.  It felt odd but I cant tell you what a welcome I got, and such a relief to get two bags of food, it makes a great difference.  So I came on here to say thank you - to all the people giving and giving, from one who got to receive - thank you

Brie

sams247 said:

I have donated to food banks in the past.......... and this month, for the first time, I have had to use one.  It felt odd but I cant tell you what a welcome I got, and such a relief to get two bags of food, it makes a great difference.  So I came on here to say thank you - to all the people giving and giving, from one who got to receive - thank you

It's what I say to people I talk to who are so reluctant.  You've given in the past and now it's your turn.  Hope you got enough to keep you going and that you can find your way out of the current situation that makes it necessary.  Hope too that there were a few Christmas/seasonal treats in there too for you. 

Here's to a happy and better new year!!!

Brie

Just wanted to post a reminder for those without kids (cuz those with already know....) that the school summer holidays are coming up.  This is a time when a lot of families really struggle to feed themselves as normally the kids would get school lunches.  When summer hits the kids are at home, need breakfast, lunch and dinner and will no doubt be shouting for snacks as well.  So keep the summer in mind when shopping and pop some bits into the collection bins to be found at almost all supermarkets just past the checkouts.

Things to buy:
Sandwich makings - jam, peanut butter (not all FBs will hand out nut products but may set them out for people to choose them), tins of tuna or other meat.  If delivering directly to a FB check if they can take fresh items like sliced ham, cheese, spread, and bread.

Easy dinners - jars or tins of hotdogs plus all the fixings - mustard, ketchup.  Buns with a long date on them.  Salad dressings.  Tins of ham.  cuppa soup.

Easy breakfasts - cereal, more jam and honey, muesli bars.

Treats - multipack of crisps, biscuits, sweets.  Biscuits, cake bars.  Cheese twists.  

Basically - what do you like to eat this time of year?  Get some and give it. 

As noted already check if they can take fresh food.  Some FBs are happy to have excess produce from allotments/gardens. 

Some like to give out extras to kids to keep them busy - boxes of sidewalk chalk, footballs, blow bubble kits, puzzle books.  

Help them enjoy the sun by providing sunscreen and sun hats.

Thanks to those who have given in the past and to those that will be giving in the coming months.

Cherryfudge

What a great list @Brie, thank you.

How about the sort of ice pops that store at room temperature? I know those would only work for those with freezers, but they can make a difference on a really hot day.

Brie

Cherryfudge said:

What a great list @Brie, thank you.

How about the sort of ice pops that store at room temperature? I know those would only work for those with freezers, but they can make a difference on a really hot day.

Great idea!!  

OH!  And don't forget the coffee, tea, UHT milk and sugar!!!

clyndu

For the last few weeks I have been buying the multi snack packs of children's biscuits. Usually from Iceland on a Tuesday ( 10% discount). These will get donated the week before our schools break up and another bag half way through. I do this before each school holiday, as well the usual donations.

mandco

Great reminder Brie  

If your unsure what to donate It’s worth checking if your local branch has a list of suggested items as this can help balance the stock they receive my local one currency needs

URGENTLY NEEDED

Tinned Hot Meat (Curry, Pies, Stew, etc.)

Tinned Fish

Tinned Tomatoes

Coffee (Small Jars)

Nappies size 4/5/6+

Jams & Spreads

Sugar (Small Bags)

Tinned Macaroni Cheese

Toiletries (Sanitary Towels Male & Female Deodorant Shampoo Toothbrushes Toothpaste)

UHT Milk

LOW ON STOCK

Tea

Baby Food

Tinned Spaghetti (In Tomato Sauce)

Tinned Kidney Beans & Pulses

Nappies size 3

Pasta

Rice

Custard

Cereal (Especially Weetabix)

Tinned Rice Pudding

Tinned Cold Meat (Ham, Spam, etc.)

Noodles (Packets)

Hot Chocolate

Cook-In Sauces (Jars & Packets)

Tinned Carrots

Tinned Fruit

Tinned Sweetcorn

Tinned Mixed Veg

Treats (Chocolate, Crisps, etc.)

Toiletries (Toilet Rolls)

With the summer holidays coming up & the current warm weather squash & long life fruit juices are very much appreciated too.

Brie

I used to wonder why they asked for small bags of sugar and small jars of coffee.  Having worked at a FB for the last couple of years I now know that storage can be a terrific problem.  And these are items you can't split in 2 for 2 different households.  We've had a few donations that included catering size bags of tea bags etc - 500 or so in one packet.  If it's not something we can easily, hygienically repackage it gets passed along to one of the local charities that does community meals - obviously we don't want anything to be wasted if possible!!

I do still consider value in what I'm buying though.  Often I've seen 500g of sugar selling at just 5p less than a kilo bag so might still go for the larger one.  

Murphybear

mandco said:

Great reminder Brie  

If your unsure what to donate It’s worth checking if your local branch has a list of suggested items as this can help balance the stock they receive my local one currency needs

URGENTLY NEEDED

Tinned Hot Meat (Curry, Pies, Stew, etc.)

Tinned Fish

Tinned Tomatoes

Coffee (Small Jars)

Nappies size 4/5/6+

Jams & Spreads

Sugar (Small Bags)

Tinned Macaroni Cheese

Toiletries (Sanitary Towels Male & Female Deodorant Shampoo Toothbrushes Toothpaste)

UHT Milk

LOW ON STOCK

Tea

Baby Food

Tinned Spaghetti (In Tomato Sauce)

Tinned Kidney Beans & Pulses

Nappies size 3

Pasta

Rice

Custard

Cereal (Especially Weetabix)

Tinned Rice Pudding

Tinned Cold Meat (Ham, Spam, etc.)

Noodles (Packets)

Hot Chocolate

Cook-In Sauces (Jars & Packets)

Tinned Carrots

Tinned Fruit

Tinned Sweetcorn

Tinned Mixed Veg

Treats (Chocolate, Crisps, etc.)

Toiletries (Toilet Rolls)

With the summer holidays coming up & the current warm weather squash & long life fruit juices are very much appreciated too.

Don’t forget pet food.  This is often ignored.  I help at a food bank on Saturday mornings.  One of the supermarkets gave us a lot of trays of cat food and dog food.  It was very popular.  I asked one young woman how many dogs she had as she wanted some dog food.  She said “4”.  That is a lot of dog food to buy 

Brie

Murphybear said:

Don’t forget pet food.  This is often ignored.  I help at a food bank on Saturday mornings.  One of the supermarkets gave us a lot of trays of cat food and dog food.  It was very popular.  I asked one young woman how many dogs she had as she wanted some dog food.  She said “4”.  That is a lot of dog food to buy 

some of the regulars at the FB say that their pets always come first and often eat better than they do.  Shows how important the animals are in their lives.  I swear some people wouldn't still be alive without their dog/cat/etc to look after.