Children going hungry in the summer holidays

I have been called judgemental for reporting my observations, I merely suggested that in some cases we are subsiding expensive habits.
In my post I said I had gone to the food bank with a donation!
Whilst there asked if they needed volunteers!
I do voluntary work with “ looked after children” and regularly support a local charity that supports refugees.
I resent being referred to as judgemental by people who know nothing about me.

Oh dear, Missfoodlove - you really do seem to believe that being stoney broke due to the endless austerity policies is truly a 'Lifestyle Choice'!

Some choice......

I'm afraid this government has very complacently (and cruelly) tossed any social responsibilities aside and cheerily allows the foodbanks to become some kind of default safety net.

I bet those people you saw in the foodbank queue were also wearing shoes, eh? Tch! Fancy these unfortunates allowing themselves the idle luxury of a pair of trainers - why aren't these feckless people walking around barefoot? If it was good enough in Charles Dickens day.........

Watching Poldark last night, the scenes in the HofC where Ross was pleading for measures to end starvation and the majority of other members were shouting about workers needing to work harder, about being feckless etc., made me realise that some things never change. This is not about politics, it is about attitude and we have seen some extreme polarity of opinions on here.

Thanks muffinthemoo - all those years in Sunday school and Church influenced my approach to life. Do unto others as you would ..... suffer the little children ....... parables of the Good Samaritan, the loaves and the fishes.

Thankfully, most of the posters on here do not subscribe to the view that people who use foodbanks or who receive some sort of benefit are likely to be dodgy characters on the make.

I would imagine that anyone who has had to rely on benefits for any more than a couple of months or so know full well how difficult it is to make ends meet. With housing, energy bills and transport becoming more and more expensive, food poverty is an increasing problem.

Well I am glad I gave 4 bags to my charity shop today. My landlady wants her flat back after 9 years of no repairs in September so may end up sleeping in the car but at least less stuff to fit in the car. Always help those worse off than yourself. Why do you imagine they are smoking? I have never smoked but understand.

Gill t57 I can confirm that food banks only give out non perishable goods but you are right. Sometimes a kind person will hand in something perishable and that will be given out while it is still,in date,
Thank you for your comments.i can’t believe how judgemental some people are.

are not - not are

the facts state that the users of food banks are not feckless!!

That is not to say, though, that there are some neglectful or abusive parents around and, as parents and grandparents, many of us may have witnessed that and felt powerless to help.

Either some folk on this thread are first class wind up merchants, or they must have some brass neck to set foot inside a church of Christ.

Matthew 25:31-46

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Find in there the concept of the ‘deserving poor’.

Just imagine what would be said if the volunteers at the food bank had eaten it!

Absolutely righton paddyann, collette13, and Barnet - we are the 5th richest nation on the planet and it's a total disgusting disgrace that the current generation faces (not because of us by the way) a worsening financial situation.

Come on people, you can read the tabloids all you want but the facts state that the users of food banks are not feckless!! The Trussell Trust, running a fifth of food banks, has become an authority on its users. They state categorically that low income and benefit delays were the biggest reasons for workers being forced into the humiliation of going to food banks.

If there is any abuse it is by the very wealthy who cream off profits from low paid workers and never pay taxes on these. Charitable status for Eton, non-dom status for tax avoiders etc. Wise up – we have paid the banks 500 billion pounds in the last 10 years – so who are the real “scroungers”??

So would Marielize prefer it if the chocolate cake had been thrown away because there was no "deserving" poor person to give it to? Her mother obviously had a horrendous time trying to keep the family fed, but why does that mean that we shouldn't try to make life better for people today?

I'll be upping my donations, NanKate, and thank you for highlighting the additional problems families face in the school holidays.

Marielize for obvious reasons food banks only accept and hand out non perishable goods. The lady you saw with the chocolate cake had likely been given it because some kind person had brought it in, hoping that a food bank user would be cheered by it. It could have been a gift from a volunteer for all you know. Stop judging. You don't have to donate but wind your neck in with the judgy comments.

Thanks to all of you who have upped your donations for the summer hols. ?

Recently saw, on TV news, a women coming out of a foodbank with a large 10 slice chocolate cake! You cannot tell me this is needed. Though some on here will have a reason for it. Never give to food banks, we have been poor mother crying when my father was in hospital in 1940's. No job or sickness benefit. My dear Mum fed us though. People today just do not know how lucky they are. I do find that people who support this cannot tolerate anyone who does not agree with them. We all have opinions and it is a free country to express them even if we don't agree with you.

Know one person gets £75 phoenix. How do you feed, clothe, and keep warm day to day, never mind survive when long term unemployment features.
I remember when you and Mr P were in dire straits. So good to know you're ok xx

Many of us could experience an unexpected change in circumstances, redundancy, job loss etc, so to say "don't have children if you can't afford to feed them" is totally ridiculous.

Not that many years ago, Mr P and I were in the situation where we carrying a calculator in Lidls to see if we could afford a jar of coffee!

Do you know how much JSA a couple get? Go on, let's have your guesses, no Googling allowed!

Deedaa - thanks for your post. I empathise - loved ones in my family who faced homelessness recently. If others hadn't been able to raise funds, the country would've had 4 more homeless people on our streets.
Those who suggest that the majority of people on benefits or going to food banks are feckless could so easily find themselves, other loved ones in similar difficulties.

Its worth repeating that much more is lost in tax avoidance than in benefit fraud.

NanKate I just googled One Can and came up with the summer calendar. What a great idea from some children who have more compassion than some GNers. If anyone wants to look it's here onecantrust.org.uk/summer-hunger/
But get a hanky before you view it!
Thanks NanKate

For quizqueen's benefit I should add that DS's partner is one of those awful immigrants and should now doubt be deported on the first available flight.

DS works full time. His partner works sometimes but has mental problems. They live in a one bedroom flat with their little boy. They neither smoke nor drink, although they do have smart phones because people like employers, schools and even doctors expect to be able to contact you via text or email. They have not resorted to food banks because we have been making sizeable contributions to their rent

I know about the schemes to feed children in the holidays but I don't think there is one near where I live. However, making donations to food banks is a step forward - particularly with food that a child may find easy to prepare if a parent is out at work.

I congratulate those who are active in helping feed poor families - I give to the foodbank collection when I shop, but you are going further and I admire your doing that. To those who wonder if the people who get food from a food bank are really struggling to feed their families, it is worth your knowing that you cannot just roll up at the food bank and ask for food - you have to prove your need. The need is real and shocking in an affluent country.