Went to Tesco today and there was a collection point for Wirral Foodbank.

As people entered the store, each was given a paper list of items which are needed.

Looking at the list there are 15 items listed, 9 of food and 6 others.

As I understand Wirral Foodbank, it is for those who need feeding, and wonder why the list now includes,nappies toilet rolls,shampoo,tooth brushes,toothpaste and feminine hygiene.

I dare say it will shortly include washing up liquid, washing powder, soap, and more of the household items plus a christmas tree.

Some, may at times mistake tampons for cigarettes, but I fail to see how shampoo and tooth brushes can be digested.

Nobody minds helping out the people who need food plus nappies for their baby but, is this charity beginning to take advantage?

so you wouldn't want someone to go hungry but you're fine if they're smelly and dirty??

Did you know that there are 11, yes ELEVEN foodbank distribution points on the Wirral now?

http://wirral.foodbank.org.uk/resou...rral-Foodbank-Distribution-Centres-2.pdf

This may need to be downloaded, it's just an google map and addresses.

How on earth did we get to the point that so many of these are genuinely needed? And they are needed. I really don't think they're trying to take advantage of peoples generosity. People will only give what they can.

Two recent cases of note: A married man with children who is working but on a low wage. Their boiler broke and the choice was food or heating. He wasn't given much choice but to go to the foodbank and be able to keep his family warm.

Someone I know who has learning difficulties and alcohol problems. They had no food, no electricity and their benefits were stopped (for the last 7 weeks) because they didn't know how to deal with the letters they received. If I can't sort something for him soon (and I've spent over 5 hours on the phone this week and days of various appointments with all of them pointing me in different directions) he'll also end up at the foodbank and he truly does need most things and not just food.

Where will it all end and when will things start getting better?

Pretty bad isn't it? Looks as if we are heading back to a lifelstyle experienced in the 1850's, or there abouts. It must surely feel like that to some.

I was surprised that the trollies were not overflowing, although they may have been emptied more than once. It reminds me of the parcels that were and still are, sent to Rumania.We didn't for one minute,think it would be us next. I believe that the same man still does it. What a remarkable person!

Giving is a wonderful thing to be able to do, and people do and will continue to.

Mr Hanky, Unfortunately, I must admit, that I have no intentions of donating to another persons 'feminine hygiene'. There are monetary donations also, which I'm sure could be used for that sort of thing.

After the second world war, the parishioners of Churches in this country used to send parcels out to Poland and other countries. My parents friends were involved. This went on for years until one day the families wrote letters asking for money instead of the parcels.That was when the good deeds ended.
Once people do take advantage, the whole thing falls on it's backside.

Foodbanks and Giving were the basis of the thought provoking Philosophy at Spiritualist Church tonight.

Disgusting,that we need food banks in this day and age. I, personally have no qualms about donating a tin of soup or a packet of biscuits.

Wait until April, when the Welfare Reforms come in.....

at the end of the day mate, the bottom line is that not many know how to budget.
them on benefits who binge drink will take the food bank s for granted.we see what happens in april? but it will benefit the homeless in the run upto xmas.welfare reforms need to come in on april.lets hope they catch the benefit frauds and then this crap wouldnt happen this wirral would be a better place.should have put this in rant hehe

They had the food bank collecting at Morrisons in West Kirby last week and the trollys were emptied quite a few times.They have a van outside that they fill up during the day.

'There but for the grace of God go I'.

Why not give a little if you can.

I was very saddened to read these posts. We have heard nothing of this over here (Oz). What on Earth is going on back in UK to have caused this. I remember the hard times my parents went through after the war, but we were never hungry. I do remember my Mum making us follow the coalman down the road to collect any pieces of dropped coal and I remember my (returned serviceman) Dad's wonderful vege garden which kept us fed. On a funnier note, Dad forbade us to pick the apples - so we didn't we ate them on the trees and left the cores hanging there unpicked. We did the same with his peas - left empty pods hanging there. Whatever has happened to bring Wirral down to this level?

Great memories Woodley.Funny how these things get switched on like a light at times.

The Wirral Foodbank is under the Trussell Trust that also sends 'shoeboxes' to Bulgaria. I now wonder if the tooth brushes etc. were for that purpose....

The link below gives a map of the UK and shows all the areas where Foodbanks are operatng in the country. It may surprise you that it's not only Wirral!

http://www.trusselltrust.org/

Bad government after bad government !

I dont see the problem with food banks in emergency situations, but there was something on the Granada Tonight about it and it didnt make me want to help those people. If you have money to spend on booze and bifters, you have money to spend on food.

Saw that one too. One of the charity receivers had a lovely new leather jacket on and none of them actually looked destitute. They put these folk on TV and when you look in the back ground you can see the wide screen TV's and computers, I don't get it. When I was a kid there were kids in the street without shoes, now that was poor but even then the dad's were out bevvying and going to the bookies down the back entry. The charity organisers seem to do quite well out of it too. It's a humdrum world we live in and that's for sure.

Hopefully no one is destitute many people using the food bank have or are in fact still working but on low money. Others are ill and their benefits have not been sorted out.I would point out that to use the foodbank you have to have a referral from a responsible body, cab social services etc. You are only allowed two vouchers.
Take the case of Tommy who has a good job and has taken a mortgage for his family he buys on hp tv's etc and then he gets cancer. His take home pay was £400 and he was able to meet all his commitments. His benefits will be around £150 per week no help with mortgage for six months he is having chemo so is cold all the time.Do you really begrudge him his television.The people who give and work at the foodbank are dealing with people like Tommy and scores of others in the same situation.