What gift to buy for a family using the food bank?

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HBee
HBee Posts: 3 Newbie
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edited 27 November 2019 at 12:38PM in Special occasions & other celebrations
I would like to buy a gift for a family using our local food bank. I don't know them so this is for an unknown family. I am already donating food so am looking for something different.

In an ideal world if it could be something split into say 4 parcels so each family member could open something, that is theirs but also is something they can play with all together, that would be great.

Don't really want to spend more than £15. Happy to do a bit of diy though!

Does anyone have any ideas?
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  • StokieBecks
    StokieBecks Posts: 4,997 Forumite
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    Do you know anything about the family? How many adults? How many children? What ages are the children? Without knowing it's hard to suggest ideas.

    Maybe you could buy a nice fleece throw and a selection of books they can read as a family?
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  • MovingForwards
    MovingForwards Posts: 16,925 Forumite
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    Maybe a board game, cards, smaller toys from the pound shop etc that can be packaged up for a couple of families.

    You may want to ask the food bank for advice as to what they deem suitable and appropriate for them to distribute.
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  • HBee
    HBee Posts: 3 Newbie
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    I don't know anything about the families they have, i just thought it would be nice to do. I thought of a few ideas that would be just one gift, but would prefer them all to have something to open to relieve the pressure on the parents a bit. I also want something that can be reused and keep them entertained.

    Books sounds good, although it reminds me of that video of the boy who wasn't please with books for christmas ��
  • Sea_Shell
    Sea_Shell Posts: 9,388 Forumite
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    It's a lovely idea, but how will that work in practice.

    Will you give the gifts to the foodbank, ringfenced for this family specifically, or are you looking to donate to "whoever"?

    Who then chooses the whoever?

    If there's not enough gifts for all the families, is it first come, first served?
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  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,557 Forumite
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    MovingForwards wrote: »
    You may want to ask the food bank for advice as to what they deem suitable and appropriate for them to distribute.

    This ^

    But if the FB can't provide presents for all their users, they may not want to get involved.
  • Socajam
    Socajam Posts: 1,238 Forumite
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    Buy them a chess set, something that can benefit the whole family, especially the children.
  • Katiehound
    Katiehound Posts: 7,557 Forumite
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    Rather than buy for just one family ask the FB because maybe a selection of picture books, card games like 'Happy Families' or jigsaws would be suitable. Most of those items can be bought in excellent condition from charity shops.

    Personally I'm not greatly in favour of buying from pound shops- most of that is really cheap tatt which breaks easily and is for binning! (I appreciate not all is, you need to be very choosy!)
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    Many thanks
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  • CAFCGirl
    CAFCGirl Posts: 9,122 Forumite
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    I would suggest card games which can cover multi generations, something like uno, or a board game like checkers,
    As for individual gifts each, hat and glove sets are useful and seasonal
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  • Savvy_Sue
    Savvy_Sue Posts: 46,030 Forumite
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    Definitely talk to the FoodBank, for many of the reasons outlined above.
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  • nodosh3
    nodosh3 Posts: 22 Forumite
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    I think it is a very nice thought. I have just been reading a book about people not used to food banks being forced into using them for economic reasons and one thing they say is that when budgeting/scrimping they always have to buy second hand or basic buys and that it is a luxury for example to have hair conditioner or top brand cereal instead of basic stuff, so if it was me and I knew little about the family other than their reliance on food, I would buy some luxury/top of the range food items, say a Christmas cake, quality shower gel, chocolate biscuits, a good moisturising cream etc. Just something not from the bargain basement range. Or a family cinema ticket as outings are generally not on the agenda when families are on strict budgets.
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