Menopause Matters Forum
General Discussion => This 'n' That => Topic started by: bramble on November 01, 2015, 01:12:20 PM
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Has anyone had any experience of donating to food banks? do they turn up their noses at own label stuff?
B
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Hi Bramble. I donate to our local food bank on a regular basis. Have to say that they've never ever turned their noses up at anything I've given. I can only afford to donate own label brands, mostly a supermarkets value brand. I usually put a couple of big bars of value chocolate or chocolate biscuits too so that the person/s receiving get to have a little treat.
It's a worthwhile thing to do.
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I give a bit of a mixture of both as the own brand stuff is still good. My daughter volunteers for the food bank in our area and says everything is welcomed with open arms.
It really is a good thing to do and I prefer it to donating money because you know that everything you give goes to people who need it.
Honeybun
X
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Our Supermarkets have areas to leave any donations which are then distributed locally. As own brand is available in store I can't see there being a problem. Some of the local 'shelters' post a weekly idea of what is required i.e. knickers, soap, flannels ……. to take directly.
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Forgot to say I usually put some cat/dog food in too. Chap at our local food bank said that pets usually get overlooked :-\
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Good idea! Many shelters now accept people with pets in tow.
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I'd never thought of toiletries, but I guess they can be a luxury if you can't afford to feed your family.
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And sanitary towels etc. they can become quite expensive especially at this time of life
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I always give a donation to the Salvation Army at Christmas but this year I thought I would find out if Mr T*sco would deliver to the nearest food bank (in the next town). Just did a practise shop on line and it was amazing how much extra I could get if I got a lot of own brands. Hence my question.
Bramble
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Just had a conversation with the local food bank. They are more than willing to accept own brand stuff as you get more for your money. Mr T*sco has kindly delivered my donation so another tick on my Christmas list. I hope it helps those who are in need. Christmas time with it's blatant overspending must be hell for those with little or nothing. Makes you grateful for the joy you have in your own life.
Bramble.
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Well done.
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That's lovely news Bramble! So many people are struggling financially through no fault of their own - I know a lot of people who are working long hours just to pay rent and a little extra is a real joy for them.
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There's a collection going at our local stresscos this weekend, so I'll be adding a few things when I do my shopping.
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Don't forget pet food!
Also: I read on-line about a lady who is making machinery for sanitary towel production in 3rd World Countries …… I wonder if such ideas would help UK Charities :-\
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I made my deposit at stresscos today. They give you a list of the most needed items.
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The place I went to on Monday to deliver clothes/reading glasses no longer required have a list on-line of essentials required each week.
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Not really a food bank, but I see a thing called helping handbags today. They ask you to fill an old handbag with sanitary towels etc and they discreetly hand them out to the homeless.
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I like that idea!
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I know a group that does a similar thing with small rucksacks for both men and women. It's a great idea.
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It's that time of year so am resurrecting this thread
I buy:
hand soap
sanitary towels
loo rolls in packs of 4
tins of : what ever the Trussel Trust suggests on their web-site
pet food
tooth paste/brushes
bubble bath
shampoo
add to that seasonal goodies (Easter/Christmas): boxes of biscuits; Advent Calendars; boxes of C.mas cards for people to send out; packs of biros; small packs of writing noteless; squirty cream .......... things that someone without immediate funds would appreciate in order to make as 'normal' a celebration as possible
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R local store has a list of emergency/urgent requirements. So I need to make my list and get shopping against what they need.
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Local facebook has sent round a list of urgently required items
Do check and if you are able, add to the collection boxes in most large stores. Our Primary School is also having collection boxes for those who can't get to town ......... so buying in the village shop benefits lots of people.
Canned meat
Canned fish
Canned mince, sausages, curry sauces
Sanitary protection
Toilet rolls
Soap
seems to be short in our area
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Good I'm so glad they did.. with all the hype going on now about Xmas, I often wonder about people who are struggling so much!
At our local Morrison's there's a donation box for toys aswell this year....x
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I volunteer at a food bank and second what others say about contacting them (or looking on their Facebook page) to see what they need.
Impossible to generalise because what's needed probably varies from area to area (and even with us it varies a lot from week to week) but we're definitely always glad to see a selection box or two for families with children!
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Oh Christ, makes me cry when I think.....yes, what a good idea, every child loves a selection box.
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Gosh, isn't sad though that Food Banks are necessary in the 21st Century. :(
I feel a trip to Aldi coming on.
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Do you have to be vetted before they hand over the bags of food. (Never thought about it before and was just wondering)
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I wouldn't think so. Our supermarket has bins for the local food bank so they can't vet them.
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Do you have to be vetted before they hand over the bags of food. (Never thought about it before and was just wondering)
At many you have to show evidence from a social worker, GP or CAB. i remember watching a programme about a Nun called Sister Wendy who ran foodbanks and she said this was necessary because people were arriving in expensive cars and leaving with bagfuls of donated food so she insisted everyone showed evidence. Also people were coming in more often than they were supposed to.
At smaller community foodbanks they are not so strict. I have to drop someone off at a community centre each week where Tesco and Aldi give them all their perishable stuff which is on date. potatoes, veg, saladstuff, bread. they also have a large fridge with fresh herbs, soups, yoghurts etc. Every item costs 5p which goes back into the centre funds. I have also seen very well dressed people getting stuff from there so I guess people try it on everywhere.
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Littleminnie was asking about donations. For collections it's normal to have a note from particular agencies. That's just common sense.
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Littleminnie was asking about donations. For collections it's normal to have a note from particular agencies. That's just common sense.
It didn't read like that to me Shadyglade. perhaps Minnie can enlighten us.
Why would a foodbank “vet†people who donate?
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Littleminnie was asking about donations. For collections it's normal to have a note from particular agencies. That's just common sense.
No Littleminnie appears to be asking about people who need food and help. No reason to vet donations
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Sorry for the confusion. I meant the people that are receiving the food parcels, do they have to take in some sort of paperwork to say that they require financial help.
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Yes they do. Usually from an official agency such as social services, local council etc.,
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Sorry for the confusion. I meant the people that are receiving the food parcels, do they have to take in some sort of paperwork to say that they require financial help.
I thought that's what you meant Minnie. thank you. As you will see from my post above most do require evidence but some smaller ones don't. Our local Salvation Army charity shop often has a large box inside the door which has bags of potatoes with a FREE PLEASE HELP YOURSELF sign. These are “on date†from a local supermarket. it's much better than the supermarket binning them all isn't it?
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Yes much better than them going to waste.
On a different note - have you seen what some councils are doing. At the local tip they have a section where you can drop off unwanted paint and anyone who can't afford to buy any can take them. What a great idea.
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Yes much better than them going to waste.
On a different note - have you seen what some councils are doing. At the local tip they have a section where you can drop off unwanted paint and anyone who can't afford to buy any can take them. What a great idea.
that IS a good idea. Our tip has a little shop where they sell clean books, CD and DVDs, ornaments, PAT tested appliances etc. At very cheap prices. The money goes to various local charities. i've bought many things in there including lovely terracotta containers for the garden.
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Yeah! Anyone of us could be in need of one. Who knows what's round the corner! 🤷♀️
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One has to get a social worker, GP, Health Worker etc. to verify and hand out certificates to present at the food bank. The Trussel Trust web-site is very clear.
Apparently we are 2 pay cheques away from need food banks.
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Yes that's what they say....😭
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The list this week is:
mince pies
tinned ham/salmon
C. pudding
C. Cake
Box of biscuits
Childrens' selection box
Box of chocolates
large bars of chocolate
snacks and nibbles
UHT milk
Long life fruit juices
Cordial/squash
serviettes
crackers
I have 3 un-opened packets of serviettes in our attic ........... bought for Mum 3-4 years ago to give if anyone called unexpectedly.
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One has to get a social worker, GP, Health Worker etc. to verify and hand out certificates to present at the food bank. The Trussel Trust web-site is very clear.
Apparently we are 2 pay cheques away from need food banks.
It was just the same when I was a young Mum but we got by (just) with no foodbanks.
I was literally first in the queue on a Monday morning to get my “family allowanceâ€. We lived from day to day and I used to make things like corned beef hash, homemade soups and bread and lots of meals using mince or eggs. We never went out when the kids were small because we couldn't afford a babysitter. There were no free nursery places and no automatic free school meals for young children like there are today. We couldn't afford to take holidays and we ran an old banger of a car.
We couldn't afford meals out or takeaways whereas I see plenty of young families doing so now.
Times were hard when I got married and there were no top ups or tax credits then - you just had to quickly learn to make your budget stretch and not expect any luxuries.
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Priorities have definitely changed. I know of a family who are on benefits but have Sky TV, broadband and mobile phones.
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I try not to judge other people and their circumstances. It's impossible to know the exact situation they are in. Broadband is now a necessity and most benifit forms are accessed online. Mobiles need not be expensive or have costly plans, especially if they have no house phone. As for Sky, who knows. Perhaps a family member pays or they have a dish but are not connected.
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We had jumble sales, anyone remember those ;D
We didn't run two vehicles. Essential food vans visited the villages on a weekly basis: fish on Friday .......... Corona with return bottles. Milk early in the morning, that was milk and cream; bread van called twice a week; a small village shop for the rest. Main town was 7 miles away so it was a weekly trip on a Sat. to the fruit/flower/veg market, butchers' shop and shell fish stalls. Fast food is too 'fast' and cooking lessons don't appear in many schools.
School had a bin at the end of Summer Term for uniforms to be dropped into for those less well off.
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I try not to judge other people and their circumstances. It's impossible to know the exact situation they are in. Broadband is now a necessity and most benifit forms are accessed online. Mobiles need not be expensive or have costly plans, especially if they have no house phone. As for Sky, who knows. Perhaps a family member pays or they have a dish but are not connected.
Yes I know it's very easy to judge and jump to conclusions but I know that sky isn't paid for by a family member and it definitely works and they brag about it.
I wouldn't like them to go hungry or not be able to clothe the family but I do think that luxuries shouldn't be provided.
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What's a luxury though? What's old age - for Pension purposes it was 60 for women, 65 for men. Now all that changed. The elderly fall into which age bracket exactly?
For me: luxury is no anxiety attacks, good health, a loving husband, roof over my head, warmth, hot bath water and food.
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Maybe luxury was the wrong word. I consider Sky and Broadband a none essential. People can use the internet at the libraries, and they do not need Sky.
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Yes well, I tried using the Internet at the library once, when our service was down. Turns out I should have booked a week in advance to do so. Waste of time.
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I generally always put something in my Tesco trolley for the food bank collection in store at Christmas. My parents had 4 children and we were not well off, my mum managed household finances very carefully, no food banks in our day. I know you can't know everyone's personal circumstances but those that spend money on top phones for themselves & kids, sky, tablets, gaming consuls etc instead of clothing and feeding their family need re-educating. Even now when I can afford the odd luxury I still refuse to have a top of the range phone, I pay as little as I can on a monthly basis, we don't have Sky or any streaming services & list goes on.
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You can't generalise all people, who are hard up, in the same bracket can you? I'm sure most people do the best they can with what they have.
I too came from a very poor family but I would hate to think others judged us because of it.
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I generally always put something in my Tesco trolley for the food bank collection in store at Christmas. My parents had 4 children and we were not well off, my mum managed household finances very carefully, no food banks in our day. I know you can't know everyone's personal circumstances but those that spend money on top phones for themselves & kids, sky, tablets, gaming consuls etc instead of clothing and feeding their family need re-educating. Even now when I can afford the odd luxury I still refuse to have a top of the range phone, I pay as little as I can on a monthly basis, we don't have Sky or any streaming services & list goes on.
So do I Yorkshire girl. I often a put a BOGOF item in there if I only need one. I do this because I feel sorry for the children of people like this, not for the lazy parents. There was a good example in the paper yesterday. Couple aged about 26 with 7 kids begging for money on GoFundMe because they cannot pay their bills. Today the girls mother has said “Do NOT donate money because he will drink it all away or smoke weed.â€
the girl (mother of 3) who used to do my hair was always complaining that she had no money and they were on tax credits yet she could afford to go out for Girly Afternoon Teas at £25 a head, get married in Greece, have Spa days and take her kids to expensive theme parks. Never in a million years could I have ever done any of those things at her age. I think a lot of young people today EXPECT handouts whereas my generation looked after themselves.
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You are so right Pennyfarthing. My parents scrimped & saved to take us to Thorpe Park & Chessington 35 odd yrs ago it was a summer treat once a year, mind you it was a lot cheaper then and Chessington was more a zoo than theme park! This is where re-educating or in PSCHEE lessons children have now they should teach them about finances and educate about the meaning of money. I really do feel for some of the children in today's society.
Shadyglade I did say you can't know everyone's experiences, but I have personally known parents who moan about the cost of something or other & yet they have the newest phone, car etc I could easily have said something but what's the point.
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Food, heat, fresh water, a roof over our heads, access to schooling and medication - essentials.
I think the 1st World have forgotten what a 'treat' actually might be.
I met a couple last year whose husband had been made redundant - the Company had done the legally required 3 months consultation period but he hadn't found a job. 3 kids with a good lifestyle, gone in 3/4 months. They were given advice about extending or altering the type of mortgage, parents were helping out etc. but she had to go to a food bank. They get enough basics for 3 days each time.
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Hmm, I think that's a bit dubious. They do have enough money for food, they don't have enough to pay the mortgage or maintain their lifestyle. I'd be cheesed off if I lived within my means in a grotty bedsit and my donation went to someone so they could stay in a fancy house.
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That story wasn't dubious at all, I would never post anything that wasn't true. The savings were paying the mortgage along with help from the parents. It isn't why, it's how people get to where they are. Donations are given per person 3 times I think as well as support to maintain the mortgage, access benefits etc.. All applicants have to be verified by a Government body, people simply don't walk into a food bank and get a box!
I have taken 4 crossword books to Chapel this morning for people who will be in Hospital over the next few weeks. Knowing how time can drag when having treatment, it seems like a good idea.
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I wasn't trying to imply the story wasn't true, I'm sure it was. I was saying it's a bit dubious them receiving charity food. They could have fed themselves but they chose to spend it on the mortgage instead.
My parents grew up in war time Britain and knew how hard it was for people before the welfare state. I guess their outlook rubbed off on me. I took my mortgage out over a 12 year term and paid it off in 7 so when they were going to make me redundant I had no debts. There are far too many people who spend a lifetime living on borrowed money. It would frighten me to think I hadn't got a reasonable back up in the bank.
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sheila99 - I don't get your argument. :-\
If their mortgage wasn't paid, they would have been made homeless within 6 months. Parents had no room for a family of 5. Banks etc. will snatch back property B4 too many debts are raised on it.
Is that better for a family of 5 2 B in box City than applying for food? Emergency food access was essential for this family. As I stated, 1 cannot have more than 3 boxes at a time, dependant on the Charity involved - each box is enough for 3 days' support and made up according to the needs of the household. It helped this family fill a gap at a time of need.
The upheaval of kicking out a family is HUGE. Movement from schools/friends/health care ........
I have always been a saver ;D and always look for bargains in the sales etc.. People helped me whilst I was growing up so I like to give something back. We weren't able to get into Debt. When DH applied to join a bank as a Student he had to have a reference! same with the mortgage application which we took out over 25 years. Now mortgages are likely to be 30+ years ........... credit wasn't as easily bought when I was growing up.
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I remember many A Christmas when My kids were small when I used to sit up till past midnight finishing off knitted dolls clothes and teddy jumpers as gifts for them. They got loads of secondhand lego which I washed and put in big decorated boxes and they never queried anything. I used to go to some brilliant jumble sales and got lovely toys. I remember buying a Britain's Farm yard and all the animals in perfect condition for about £1 and they played with that for years. I also bought loads of board games and jigsaws, some still wrapped. We just didn't have the money to buy expensive things and we never, ever overstretched ourselves.
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PF - same in our family. Apparently my sister hated 2nd hand stuff but it never bothered me. Loved something new ........ as toys were a treat and not a daily happening.
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There was a woman at a knitting group I used to go to. She and her husband had 5 kids. She was involved in a car accident and the husband had to stop work for a while to look after her and the kids. They used foodbanks for several weeks and were on benefits.
I thought that was fair enough. Then we had a woman in selling wool one session and the injured woman spent £65 on wool. I couldn't believe it!
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I would have spat bricks! Was she still claiming?
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I have just read a news article that reports a huge increase in money donations to Food Banks and homeless charities, in the last few days. On average it is around double what is expected at this time of year.
It's nice to know what a compassionate country we still are. :)
Also there are more Food Banks than Mcdonalds. 2000 conpared to 1300. Now that's food for thought.
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Food Banks are healthier probably ;)
We give money to our local food bank in the New Year. Our heating allowance; whist we can afford it.
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It might be funny but for God's sake don't put a laughing face though, shadyglade.. ;) xx
No I won't Teresa ;D
I've just deleted my comment anyway. Humour is a very personal thing, apparently. :)
Anyway, good morning and nice to hear from you. :foryou:
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Sometimes bad things happen after people have these "luxuries" i don't think it is fair to judge people who use food banks or claim benefits, circumstances can change
It is disgusting that we even need food banks these days, >:(
I had never heard of them until David Cameron became PM,and now Tories have got in again,be prepared to be even poorer >:(
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Food Banks have been a fact of Life World wide for years. Until more recent years, probably the 1970s, when people became more mobile, families and neighbours supported each other where ever possible. Everyone on each social strata was in the same boat so people were not judged as much as they seem to be now.
There will also be a crisis somewhere in the World ..........
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Sometimes bad things happen after people have these "luxuries" i don't think it is fair to judge people who use food banks or claim benefits, circumstances can change
It is disgusting that we even need food banks these days, >:(
I had never heard of them until David Cameron became PM,and now Tories have got in again,be prepared to be even poorer >:(
Absolutely right jaycee. I can't see the next 10 years being any better than the last. :(
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We will survive ;) [where are the other C.mas hats ???]
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How did we ever all manage without foodbanks? There were many times when we were newly married when we lived from day to day with money. I remember my Dad didn't have much money but he used to grow his own veg and it was wonderful when he turned up with potatoes, leeks, carrots, parsnips etc.
I do think a lot of people would benefit from some housekeeping and budgeting lessons. They spend their money on ready meals which don't fill you up so you then need top ups like crisps, biscuits, cakes etc which are all expensive. I see families with 3 or 4 kids out having pub or supermarket meals and we could never have afforded that.
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Well put. All my family had gardens. So lots of fresh fruit and veg. in season. Oranges were a treat at C.mas as were nuts. Other fruits in tins were always on the pantry shelf.
It is about filling the body so that it burns energy correctly.
We also knew how to use up left overs .........
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Yeah, that would work really well in a flat or in the inner city. ::)
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We have a bowl of porridge for breakfast which costs pence and some fruit on top. it keeps us full until lunchtime and it's good for you. yet I read that some parents are sending their kids off to school with nothing inside them and the teachers are having to feed them. Sorry but that is totally wrong and irresponsible. If you can't give your children a cup of tea and some cereal or toast then you shouldn't be having children. My Mum would have been thoroughly ashamed if we had to go out on empty stomachs. I really do believe that some parents are lazy and expect other people to give them handouts And the more we hand out it will become second nature.
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Yeah, that would work really well in a flat or in the inner city. ::)
Many supermarkets are advertising bags of veg like carrots, potatoes, onions etc for 29p each. That's probably cheaper than growing it yourself.
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But those living in towns had access to foodstuffs that my gt/grandparents took to market. Going back Centuries, I don't think any lived in towns until the 1920s, when one emigrated to Canada and turned up in 1974 ;D. They lived so high up that they didn't need curtains :o. But the rest of us remained in the villages ........... farming or working on the land even if the farm was owned by someone else. Fresh milk from the cow :-X :sick02: ...... I think that cress on a saucer was the first thing I grew ::) and a bean in a clean milk bottle filled with water to watch the root grow.
Also they grew what families would eat with enough to swop with other gardeners. Compost was made at home and went back onto the earth. OH I could eat jam rolly poly right now :-\ with hot custard.
I can cook. Won't cook. But could if I had to. It's the preparation that gets me down :-\ ......
Those PF are packed by workers in harsh conditions, a friend did that years ago. Standing for hours in a barn whilst the various veg came down, cleaned, along a conveyor belt: she had to whisk off the various veg. to hand pack either as parsnips etc. or mixed veg. - how they can be sold for 29p each, it must be a lost leader. Good idea though, that would be me :D. Saves on waste too for those who don't compost ...........
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Many families who live in poverty have to rely on public transport and have no supermarkets nearby. Large sink estates are lucky if they have any shops let alone supermarkets with fresh veg.
It's easy for those of us who are comfortably off with smart cars and without the stress of hardship to criticise others. Labelling those in need as undeserving and feckless on mass is a shame. Obviously some do make bad choices but I don't think the majority do.
I did a largish Xmas food shop at Aldi yesterday, and delivered it to our local food bank today. I plan to do something similar on a regular basis now and I won't begrudge a penny spent.
Happy Christmas to you all. :xmas:
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I pay enough in tax to pay their benefits which they could use to buy food if they hadn't already spent it on fags, booze and a mobile phone. Yes, everyone can have an unexpected expense but there's no reason the majority can't live on the money they get. I wonder why so many people are desperate enough to risk their lives to get here when life's so awful here?
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Happy Christmas Sheila.
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Happy Xmas shady. Oh, and I'll be working on Christmas day as will OH, that's how we get money. I doubt the food bank recipients will be.
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Not true. Many people who make use of food banks are in employment. Unfortunately zero hours contracts etc., means they still cannot make ends meet.
Peace and goodwill to all men/women/children/British born/refugee/immigrant/Little Green man etc.,
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There is a saying: "The poor will always be with us" (and I guess income tax will be too). It's easy to criticize others when we don't know their circumstances, and a waste of energy to get wound up about the feckless few.
Peace and love,
JP x
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Exactly right Joaniepat...
Surely we shouldn't judge people who are in need!
We don't know their circumstances so shouldn't pass any kind of judgment at all.
We all don't really know when, we,/our own families will be in need too.
Perhaps if, god forbid, that ever happened, we'd have a different opinion then!
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sheila - that could be a separate topic. Maybe the grass is always greener, plus we aren't being bombed hourly; we have access to fresh water, fresh air, peace ........... we don't hear how many of those who arrive here in a panic get an education B4 returning 'home'.
There have been several fires across the UK recently where people have lost everything except what they stand up in :'(.
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Now that C.mas is over I must remember to top up the food bank donations box ............ your local web-site should tell the public what is required. Our local needs tinned meats, custard, dog food, toilet rolls and tinned fish. With good use by dates on.
I also need to buy biscuits, I try to give our Council bin men goodies between now and New Year and again at Easter. They work well in all weathers ;). off 2 make a list.
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Certainly is. One lady fled with her new baby from a domestic situation and landed in our area .......... was taken in, given appropriate advice and was fed once every week for 5 - there's enough in the box for 3 days of healthy eating.
Life-line is that is should be seen as.
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Well put Stellajane.
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Apparently our local 'bank' is short of storage space due to a good response B4 C.mas/New Year. Nothing on the facebook or web-page 2 suggest the shelves are full, but a sign in the collection box 2-day asks for no further deposits for 3 weeks. I did put a pack of 4 loo rolls in ......... what goes in and all that ::)
Oh the Santa hats are slowly disappearing .............