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Food Banks
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Andy Birkenhead
23-12-2016
When you go to a food bank, can you pick the food yourself or do you have to take what they sort out for you ?
How often can you use a food bank.
In cost terms, how much is the food that you receive from a food bank ?
I realise that the requirements for people with children are different than for those without, so I am thinking of husband and wife having to use a food bank.
molliepops
23-12-2016
The one we donate to makes up boxes prior to people arriving and they are to last three days. You need to be referred though you can't just turn up.
Andy Birkenhead
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by molliepops:
“The one we donate to makes up boxes prior to people arriving and they are to last three days. You need to be referred though you can't just turn up.”

Yes I am aware of that.
BlueEyedMrsP
23-12-2016
I've never had to use one, but I wouldn't think you get to pick the food yourself. They're meant to be for people in dire straits with very little food to speak of at home. It would seem a bit cheeky to pick and choose.

I do wonder if the stories about them being abused are exaggerated, as most people here have said you can't just show up and get food, you need a referral and then it's only every 3 months or something. Unless they tag-team but still it's not enough food to rely on solely to get by long-term.
Lou Kelly
23-12-2016
You get what you're given
andydylan
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Lou Kelly:
“You get what you're given”

True, on a local facebook page one person was trying to sell some food and coffee that she had got from a food bank. When criticised she said it was food she didnt like and she never drank coffee
Skaface
23-12-2016
Whenever I've seen food banks featured in TV documentaries, they've all seemed to be set up like self-service mini-supermarkets, with tinned foods in one section, fresh fruit & veg in another etc, but the people using them are instructed to only take a certain amount from each section as they make their way around. I think this system is a good idea as it means people can choose items of food they like and will therefore enjoy eating, but it also prevents someone stuffing their bag full of fresh meat which they can either take home to keep in their freezer, or possibly sell on for profit.
alan29
23-12-2016
You get 3 days worth based on the size of your family. They give out what has been donated, so you can't ask for lobster.
alan29
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Skaface:
“Whenever I've seen food banks featured in TV documentaries, they've all seemed to be set up like self-service mini-supermarkets, with tinned foods in one section, fresh fruit & veg in another etc, but the people using them are instructed to only take a certain amount from each section as they make their way around. I think this system is a good idea as it means people can choose items of food they like and will therefore enjoy eating, but it also prevents someone stuffing their bag full of fresh meat which they can either take home to keep in their freezer, or possibly sell on for profit.”

What you see on TV are the warehouses where stuff gets sent to. It is then put into parcels of different sizes for the clients. The people going round the shelves picking stuff are the volunteers making up the parcels which are then sent to distribution point where the clients get sent. Clients don't go to the warehouses and self-serve. They don't do fresh food, only tins and packets etc with a long shelf life.
JasonWatkins
23-12-2016
I read a comment a while back that said food banks don't belong in 21st century britain and i wholeheartedly agree. Thanks tories.
eveningstar
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Skaface:
“Whenever I've seen food banks featured in TV documentaries, they've all seemed to be set up like self-service mini-supermarkets, with tinned foods in one section, fresh fruit & veg in another etc, but the people using them are instructed to only take a certain amount from each section as they make their way around. I think this system is a good idea as it means people can choose items of food they like and will therefore enjoy eating, but it also prevents someone stuffing their bag full of fresh meat which they can either take home to keep in their freezer, or possibly sell on for profit.”

This is exactly how the food bank works where I volunteer, it's better that people have items they actually need although as you say, there are certain limits. Ours does offer some fresh food when we have any. Different food banks operate differently so check with the one you're planning to visit to find out what their system is.
Andy Birkenhead
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“I read a comment a while back that said food banks don't belong in 21st century britain and i wholeheartedly agree. Thanks tories.”

Absolutely.
It's disgusting that people - people with pride and self-respect - are forced, due to circumstances beyond their control, to have to use food banks.
molliepops
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Andy Birkenhead:
“Absolutely.
It's disgusting that people - people with pride and self-respect - are forced, due to circumstances beyond their control, to have to use food banks.”

Whilst I agree it's better we have them with than not as I can't see this austerity being ever ended.
Skaface
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by alan29:
“What you see on TV are the warehouses where stuff gets sent to. It is then put into parcels of different sizes for the clients. The people going round the shelves picking stuff are the volunteers making up the parcels which are then sent to distribution point where the clients get sent. Clients don't go to the warehouses and self-serve. They don't do fresh food, only tins and packets etc with a long shelf life.”

No, I've seen those too Alan and i'm not talking about them. The ones i'm referring to are definitely not warehouses, they're held in much smaller places such as community centres, where the volunteers stack the shelves with donations of food sent from the bigger warehouses, local shops etc. They're small, independent set-ups, serving the local community. I think the most recent example I've seen was a couple of weeks ago in a BBC documentary called 'Sister Rita To The Rescue', which was based in or near Manchester, iirc. They definitely have fresh veg available at the ones I've seen, as I remember seeing a volunteer bagging up rations of about half a dozen spuds into small bags from a massive sack.

I think there are two types of food banks - the bigger ones you're speaking of and the small, independent ones serving just their local community. There shouldn't be any need for any of them though imo.
muggins14
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Skaface:
“No, I've seen those too Alan and i'm not talking about them. The ones i'm referring to are definitely not warehouses, they're held in much smaller places such as community centres, where the volunteers stack the shelves with donations of food sent from the bigger warehouses, local shops etc. They're small, independent set-ups, serving the local community. I think the most recent example I've seen was a couple of weeks ago in a BBC documentary called 'Sister Rita To The Rescue', which was based in or near Manchester, iirc. They definitely have fresh veg available at the ones I've seen, as I remember seeing a volunteer bagging up rations of about half a dozen spuds into small bags from a massive sack.

I think there are two types of food banks - the bigger ones you're speaking of and the small, independent ones serving just their local community. There shouldn't be any need for any of them though imo.”

They have one near us - it provides fresh fruit and veg for the community, donated by local producers.

ETA: This specific one ONLY deals with fresh produce. I think they may work in conjunction with another food bank that handles the longer-life produce.
Sifter22
23-12-2016
The one I used to volunteer for only gave to services such as hostels and supported housing. Never dealt with people directly.
pie-eyed
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Lou Kelly:
“You get what you're given”

Then you can sit on the bus shouting out "does anybody want sugar (or whatever) all the way home as happens where I live. "Ooh I dont like that. Who wants weetabix".
JasonWatkins
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by Andy Birkenhead:
“Absolutely.
It's disgusting that people - people with pride and self-respect - are forced, due to circumstances beyond their control, to have to use food banks.”

But they're being "encouraged" to find work... because being driven to despair and humiliation is the perfect way to "encourage" people to find a job of course.

Originally Posted by molliepops:
“Whilst I agree it's better we have them with than not as I can't see this austerity being ever ended.”

Most certainly. And i hope the ones that do exist continue to be supported as much as possible for as long as possible. Sadly, I do agree that austerity will be with us for a very long time to come.
GusGus
23-12-2016
One of the TV documentaries about people on benefits featured people who had work trying to help claimants change their circumstances
One working single mother had three jobs to support her family, and she was trying to help another similar mother who was a claimant
During their discussion about budgeting the claimant mentioned that she allowed £20 per week for her night at the pub. The working mother told her that she herself couldn't afford to spend £20 a week going out, and the claimant replied that she could only do it because of the food she could get from the food bank
SULLA
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“I read a comment a while back that said food banks don't belong in 21st century britain and i wholeheartedly agree. Thanks tories.”

You would rather people starve ?????
ba_baracus
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by SULLA:
“You would rather people starve ?????”

I think he meant that people should not be in the situation where they need a food bank in the first place.

Best wishes to you Andy.
JasonWatkins
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by SULLA:
“You would rather people starve ?????”

Yeah, that's really want I meant isn't it ..
SULLA
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“Yeah, that's really want I meant isn't it ..”

You cannot be serious
Originally Posted by ba_baracus:
“I think he meant that people should not be in the situation where they need a food bank in the first place.

Best wishes to you Andy.”

I agree, but we are in the situation, so they are needed.
ba_baracus
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by SULLA:
“I agree, but we are in the situation, so they are needed.”

Nobody is disputing that. Why are you having such trouble comprehending what he meant?
JasonWatkins
23-12-2016
Originally Posted by SULLA:
“You cannot be serious”

I'd level exactly the same "question" at you. But, if your comprehension is that limited then please take what i said exactly at face value because i'm not going to drag this thread off topic spelling something out to you.
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