i think we should try our hardest to give a little something if we can to the food banks. These are local people who are struggling and often working doing thier very best to feed a family in hard times. Spare a thought for them and just chuck and extra tin of something in your trolly for the food bank. Having said that I think supermarkets could help out a bit aswell. we are good people in this country and its time to also look out for our own.

I only found out about Food Banks a short time ago. Given a leaflet on the way into the local Co-oP. For once, I read it whilst cruising the shelves. Bought a couple of extra tins of soup, pasta etc and handed them in. I got to think about this method. It's a great scheme imho. With other various charities, the "suits" at the top cream off 20% or more of the cash you give. (Admin.) It's pretty difficult to drain every can of whatever of 20% or more of its contents. The end user gets 100% of what me and thee donate. Simples!

By chance, I found out last night that my nearest neighbour (allbeit a mile away) is a volunteer at one of the Food Bank distrubution points in the town. NO paid staff at all. It turns out I know quite a few folk who just quietly go and help for a few hours every week. They say nowt about it - just get on with helping out. Someone said in another thread about this "There for the Grace.... etc". FAZACKERLEY !

Another thing learned last night too.... several supermarkets within the district donate loads of stuff to the bank. Again, volunteers use their own cars/vans at their own expence to uplift trolley loads of stuff from the supermarkets. There is a system in place to allocate food to those in real need - as opposed to those whose who have blown their Giro on booze, fags etc.

Ain't going to stick my nose into the politics of why Food Banks are needed in the UK in the 21st century, or them being akin to the Soup Kitchens of the 1930's etc. I'm sure others will dive in on that one !

Sorry for the drawn out post folks. I just thought it's one of the better things to think about whilst we are stuffing the freezer/larder full of noshables for Christmas.

i agree in principle BUT there was a programme on bbc1 not too long ago about ppl who use SORRY ABUSE these services, and actually cease to buy their own shopping as they rely on places like these too much.
Services such as food banks are a fab idea and really help ppl in need, but as with everything in life you get the rotten few who spoil it for the rest.

take the flooding in st asaph last week, my father lost everything in his wooden bungalow due to flood water/damage there have been lovely kind souls collecting food and handing out parcels of the basics which has been very greatly received by all in need, but guess what.........the lowlifes have crawled outta their hiding places (prob crack dens) claiming they too have been affected by flooding when in fact they havent thus ruining the "idea" behind the whole scheme.

keep up with the fab work you are doin but also check out the validity of the ppl you are helping. times are hard for us all these days and if i do help such causes then i would HOPE that my donations are goin to the genuinely needy and helpless.

poker

Well said that man. :-)

The program did show the abuse of foodbanks but on the whole they do good, they do more than our welfare system can ever do. There is abuse in everything relating to charity, there is always going to be that element of society that will take advantage no matter what.

Food Banks are amazing, I contacted them recently a number of times to offer my services and have never received a reply unfortunately. I would really have loved to offer my support to collect food when they recently had a big collection event at Tescos. As it stands there are loads around, Tony Snell did a report each morning on Radio Merseyside about the various food banks in our region. Very humbling.

Without waiting for collections I am sure food can be dropped off to any of the food banks, it would be so easy just to pick up a few things extra with your weekly shop, no one would mind spending an extra pound, thats all it will take to help.

@Pokerchamp.
Really sorry to hear about your family and the results of the terrible flooding last week. I have been in touch with some family members from that area and the 'news' in general does not really manage to explain the true heartbreak. It is only now, I think that people are just realising what the devastating effects are. Fortunately, I believe there are many in that area who so willingly give, in so many ways, and I am sure the community will help as much as they possibly can.

Foodbanks are just another way, and 'by gum', doesn't it make you feel good to have given. Basically we have within us a natural desire to help where and when we are needed, which to my mind, pulls everyone together for the good. We couldn't live without each other, could we?

i watched a report about the one in Tranmere on the news last week and once you qualify your allowed to claim 3 days worth of food 3 times a year!

BnM 2lt milk 89p
BnM Bread 89p
iceland burgers 20 for£2
iceland sausages 20 for £2
iceland fishfingers 40for £2
poundland for teabags and bacon

so if you shop around you can do a weeks shopping for under £20

it gets me how people in the soaps say they have no money but can sit in the pub all day long mmmmm

Sounds like a lovely healthy diet!

20 loin pork chops and 6 gammon steaks. £10 Farmfoods.

Similar to other people I have only recently found out about foodbanks. I was given a leaflet on the way into Bidston Tescos, with a list of items they are in short supply. I picked up a few extra bits that where on the list, and the lady at the till said a vast majority of shopper that day where buyiing extra.

http://www.wirral.foodbank.org.uk

So how does one quailfy?
I might let my nan know about this food bank project.

Is this what you donated to the food bank? well done Mate.

if your on the bones of your ass I don't think you can cry about a healthy diet food is food at the end of the day, we should get them some after 8 mints and some wine then?

Nice one Ed. If any of us think back to the last time we felt truly hungry (I could eat a scabby horse, I'm starving, etc.) then we'd remember that any food at all would have done! Although it's better if you can get your '5 a day', you can live without them. But you can't live with no food.

.....and don't the supermarkets just love it? If they lowered their prices considerably more, then fewer people may be facing this crisis. They have the monopoly, which was always on the cards and now we see the sad results.We really need to go back more to home baking etc. How much to make a bread and butter pudding? Next to nothing. Rice Pudding, homemade soup, toad in the hole, these are all the foods I was raised on but didn't make them for my family very often because, it was more convenient to buy a tin of soup.We can blame ourselves some too, I think.

Maybe should do this for third world countries because there is no benefits and aids like here, even water is short,

You taking the piss Morgan?

The point is that Food Banks have existed for thirld world countries.

BUT here we are, in Great Britan, in the 21st century, donating fecking food for starving people!!

starving people, with phones laptops broadband etc...don't make me laugh!

Precisely.

I always let out a little chuckle when I think of the 'poor people' sitting at home surfing the net in front of their Sky box, sipping ale and smoking a ciggy.

Poor, poor people.

Precisely.

I always let out a little chuckle when I think of the 'poor people' sitting at home surfing the net in front of their Sky box, sipping ale and smoking a ciggy.

Poor, poor people. [/quote
Been all their homes have you Boris ?

Lowered them to how much? Nothing?

Would you prefer to return to the days before supermarkets and corner shops with limited choice and high prices?

I don't recall any corner shops selling beans for 9p before the likes of Aldi and Netto arrived.

How clever of you.

Booze ,fags and drugs too.poor poeple my ass.

ALL of them?

We can't all live on F..ing beans Gibbo.

My local greengrocers are cheaper than any supermarket, by far.

"Aldi The German chain has posted a 200 per cent increase in UK profits, and is opening stores here at the rate of more than two a month"

Asda operating profits jumped 6% to £870m

Supermarket giant Tesco has reported a 12% drop in group pre-tax profits to £1.7 billion in the six months to August 25.

Morrisons Pre-tax profits rose 9pc to £442m in the six months to the end of July on revenue up from £8.1bn to £8.7bn. Analysts had forecast profits of £437m.
Sainsbury's increased pre-tax profits by 2.5% to £405m during the six-month period to September 29, according to interim results published today.


So either they are making more than they need, or there is no such crisis!

im not sure i think social services have to refer you but you probably have to be refered to social services too,so maybe through your doctor ??

This link to the BBC is from April this year.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-17867328

c.a.b and police too can give out the vouchers according to the website.

Thanks for your reply i will have a word with my nan tonight. most her pension is going on heating water etc.I try and help her out at times.
Thanks again.

Thanks also Moonstar.