Best things to give.

Yes good point. Vastly outnumbered!

mcem I agree but isn't it good to see her so far in the minority here? That wasn't always the case. Maybe people are finally starting to understand.

I too support Mary's Meals and know several people who work hard for that very efficient and caring charity.
They'd be appalled to see that anyone would use their work as some sort of justification for the dreadful post from lioness.

Longdistancegranny I find that going round a supermarket and thinking about what I would need to put together basic meals for a family with two children is a good rule of thumb; breakfast, lunch and a dinner, using foods with a long shelf life. It's not ideal to use tinned carrots, tinned potatoes and tinned meat etc but tinned vegetables are better than no vegetables at all. Add in some toiletries, cleaning products and perhaps a treat for children and the cost, in a supermarket such as Lidl or Aldi for one day's supplies, is not out of reach for some of us, even if not every week, and certainly no more than two bottles of wine which we can do without anyway.

I've often seen sanitary products mentioned as important to give to food banks. I would suggest some food bank users may need Tena lady type products.

gmelon Short of asking the mother what she did with her benefits, I wouldn't know, but I do know that there was no money available to feed or clothe the children.
Some people are just no use at budgeting or prioritising, especially on a limited income. Some of families had got caught in a money lending trap, trying to manage their low incomes.
However, it is an interesting question, I'm just not sure of the answer.
I'll watch your new thread with interest.

Would that make a new thread? I shall give it a go.

marydoll
The children that were taken into care. I would say that is neglect and perhaps not poverty.
Any money coming in was not being used on the children or household?

Is it truly possible to live in actual poverty nowadays?

I am interested to know if the money is wasted or if the money is truly not there at all.
Does the benefit system not provide a basic amount to be spent and stretched as best as possible?

Others on here will have more examples and insight than I.

since reading that children go to school without breakfast I always give a very big packet of cornflakes every time I shop.

Good for you Lioness68, let’s hope you don’t catch cold up there on the moral high ground.
I volunteer in my local food bank and agree with those who do the same about what’s needed and about the fact that not everybody has the facilities to cook “normal” meals. Sometimes a pet is the only company a person might have ..
Thankyou to all of you who do contribute - I know what a difference it makes.

I used to help in a storage depot of our local Food Bank, we always had too much pasta and plenty of baked beans and cereal. Long life milk and fruit juice is good, and all those personal items as discussed above. If it is a Food Bank which does not offer any fresh food the options are limited but things that can be easily prepared or eaten straight from the pack are helpful - in a perfect world we would be able to give out lots of healthy options including fresh fruit and veg, but that is clearly not practical and it is important that these people get something to eat and the basics to care for themselves. We used to get requests for 'starter packs' for people who had recently been re-housed, so toilet rolls, toothpaste, shampoo, washing up liquid, washing powder, cleaning materials were then included.

Lioness68, I support both "Mary's Meals" AND foodbanks. Each equally deserving.
I taught children, who through no fault of their own were malnourished and hungry. Should they be denied food from foodbanks?
One example was widow with two boys, a decent woman holding down three low paid jobs to support her family, but struggling to cope. Foodbanks were a godsend to her. Not everyone wastes their money on "fags and bingo".
There were other children taken into care because when the police raided their home, there was not a stick of furniture, nor any food in the house. That is extreme poverty and it is in this country.

I work in a foodbank, they are all slightly different but generally the reason for not having fresh food is that we can't store it. We have a facebook page and put on there items we desperately need or things we have a lot of and don't need. A lot of people don't have cooking facilities so packets that just need hot water adding are useful. Make sure tins have ring pulls, most but not all do now, a tin opener is something people may not have. Cleaning products as well as sanitary products, toilet rolls and nappies are appreciated.

Yes, because every poor person plays bingo with a fag hanging out their mouth.

Quite right Lioness68. We must find the poorest person in the poorest country and that is the person that we should help. Anyone else is just whinging.
Thankfully, some of us do help those with less than us and I don't begrudge someone who has to go to foodbanks (which is not a nice experience) the odd cigarette if it helps them cope.

Gosh Lioness68, I wish I was as perfect as you.

mabon1 - washable nappies implies access to v. hot water, a sink, soap powder and, crucially, somewhere to dry things. Not easy if, eg, you are in a b&b type hostel, where sadly many homeless families are placed.

I check the website of our one before I shop to see what they are asking for . I like to buy 'treats' if possible .

I refuse to give to food banks. The supposedly poor people in this country should look at the charity "Mary's Meals". The people they support ARE living in extreme poverty. As for donating pet food - if you so short of money you can't afford a pet.

People need to prioritise their money. Fags and bingo are not essentials and if you can't afford children, don't have them.

NotTooOld ....haha..think I might need some too!?

Mabonl an admirable concept, but if you are keeping a very close watch on heating bills and electricity in general, then washing and drying nappies is more expensive.

JanaNana - please tell me how to get hold of some female sanity products!

Many years ago we all used towelling nappies, used over and over again. I know they need rinsing and washing but it would save money and the planet

I help out at one and toilet rolls, toothpaste etc are always welcome.

As Niobe says, no fresh food, only that with a long shelf life, which sounds quite limited but supermarkets will often donate fresh food too.