Food Costs - OLIO is just brilliant

shykins

Auti there are day collections that are listed in the morning (which is what i do) and i often have gluten free bread so its always worth checking

rosa Olio is to tackle food waste its not about whether you can afford it or not.   if you see things listed  do request them whether you are 'in need' or not, particularly bread which we nearly always get left with and ends up being wasted or in my case I take it to the local animal rescue

QueenJess

Where I live they aren’t in walking distance, but I’ve recently noticed that stuff hangs around for days and days. I’ve now started requesting a few things like bread that never seems to go as I really hate waste, I will use it up and I combine a drive with other things I need to do.

CheeseScone

DullGreyGuy said:

Katiehound said:

Well, for starters you need a smart phone to download the app..... I would suggest that greatly  reduces the number of folk who are able to benefit.

93% of people in the UK have a smart phone and a quick google shows they have a web version too for the remaining 7%... obviously still leaves the 1.2% that cannot speak English, then the illiterate, possibly the blind depending on how well app/web works with accessibility tools etc. The 0.16% in prison probably can't use it, though they may have their own system.

Nothing is going to work for everyone but that doesn't mean it isnt a good thing especially when on paper it works for the vast majority.

What about the elderly with no internet access? What about those who don't drive?

I live in a medium sized town and the closest items to me are often 5 miles away.

bouicca21

CheeseScone said:

DullGreyGuy said:

What about the elderly with no internet access? What about those who don't drive?

I live in a medium sized town and the closest items to me are often 5 miles away.

I live in a London suburb and the only offer within walking distance is a couple of open packets of flour.  All the other offers are at least a bus or train ride away.  Too good to go is much the same.  

happydenial

Comments like ones above really frustrate me. Olio isn’t great where I live either, but I’m unsure how commenting with this fact is useful to anyone?! I also don’t have a Lidl or Morrisons anywhere near me, but don’t waste my time stating that every time a poster mentions they got a free bakery item at Lidl, or a Morries TGTG bag 🤔 Nothing will be universally beneficial to everyone but may be beneficial to someone 🤷‍♀️

elsien

I think maybe also some people don’t realise how quickly things go. So the people near me if you don’t request it within a minute or two with it going on this site, unless it’s a surplus of bread, it’s gone and you wouldn’t realise anything have been offered. People need to check the “no longer available” tab as well to get an idea of who is offering  food and where they are.

newlywed

There’s lots of food on olio here, I’m in a city. I am happy to look at things 5 miles away as I often walk that far in any case.  Lots of bread and pastry items and tea as well. I don’t pick up much food as currently eating lower carb.

some special diet items are on there too, as well as some unusual spices and foods (often part used).

it’s a good way to recycle and reduce waste.

things do go quick. I posted a stick blender and had 6 requests in 5 mins! 

A tip I was given is to look for a food hero near you and watch what time they post as it will often be similar each week, then you can be ready and waiting for them!

Floss

DullGreyGuy said:

93% of people in the UK have a smart phone and a quick google shows they have a web version too for the remaining 7%... obviously still leaves the 1.2% that cannot speak English, then the illiterate, possibly the blind depending on how well app/web works with accessibility tools etc. The 0.16% in prison probably can't use it, though they may have their own system.

Really? Could I ask where you found this information?

poppy811

I am rural, a pensioner and have a terminal illness . No food offers here but I believe the local supermarket donates to the family centre at the local school.  As long as food doesn’t go to waste I am happy

shykins

I live in a very rural area but we have a good Olio team round here, including me lol    it does depend on area obviously, like most things not everything is available everywhere! 

for those who dont see much in your area maybe its because nobody has volunteered to cover the so its maybe worth considering whether you can if thats the case.   

we get a lot of bread so theres nearly always some of that left after the intial flurry of requests.   we are encouraged to share fairly and not everything goes to the first person who asks .   generally we do list at roughly the same time  on the days we do Olio.     those that do evening collections have to pass on the Use by Items before midnight the same day so they do go quick  but best before items can be collected the following day depending on availability 

hope that helps