feeling judged by a supposed non judgemental organisation

Your answer is here I'm afraid. An awful lot of people who volunteer are judgemental, gossipy and see themselves as judge, jury and public executioner. A former client of mine once heard 2 charity volunteers discussing her case on the bus! She was horrified and very distressed, had they been paid staff they would have lost their income but as volunteers just moved on to another charity!

As for people arriving in brand new cars, they could be motability vehicles which are leased to claimants, some of whom have hidden disabilities.
Some people, like myself, have conditions which make them appear intoxicated, or take medications which make them appear "high". It's possible they may be playing the system, but no more so than those use tax loopholes and surely should have the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise? It's the attitude of volunteers that put a lot of people off using these organisations. Ironically much of the donated food is donated by poorer people who know what it's like to go without and contrary to public opinion, far more benefits go unclaimed than are fraudulently acquired.

Named and shamed?

Crikey-that's a bit strong innit?

The charity seems to have drawn a reasonable conclusion from a situation which the OP was daft enough to post on social media!

A few weeks ago I found a carrier bag in my bin which didn’t belong to me after a bit of detective work it appeared it had come from a food bank and inside was all the ‘healthy food’ pasta, granola, chick peas etc etc, someone didn’t want I really don’t understand why they just didn’t say no to those items instead of dumping them Well they were all in date so went back to my closest food bank ?

oh pooohbear2811 that is awful. I am so sorry. How dare they. This idea that as a recipient you do not also have the desire to give. It reminds me of the widow's mite - the most generous gift. I was always moved by that as a child. What self righteous prigs they are. I'd like to know who they were. Some people do have to be named and shamed however much they signal their virtue - they most of all.

Chaitriona - I couldn't agree more.

And the comments about what people 'should' have (or not have) before they can claim anything are reminiscent of what my grandparents used to tell me about the 1930s - before people could get any help they had to sell everything they owned and had worked for.

Means testing works against self-help, as as soon as people have got anything it is at risk of being taken away if they fall on hard times, so they may as well spend what they have whilst they have it. It encourages a 'jam today' way of thinking, which is completely understandable when the alternative is to do without all the time.

Chaitriona has hit the nail on the head. We are the sixth richest nation in the world and yet people are dependent on charity to get food. It is a National disgrace.

I am so sorry you had this experience. it is humiliating and makes you feel as if you are a liar and a cheat. This happens to people in need all the time. And is why people in the past hated and refused charity and were desperate to manage without. Charitable giving of all sorts may make the people who give feel good about themselves but it is often at the cost of the dignity of the recipients. In my opinion, we shouldn’t have to have people depending on charity for food. We should have a properly funded and managed social security system that would support us all in dignity when we need it. However I know that people have voted against this.

I would have thought that buying food would be a higher priority than running a car or paying for internet access. I struggle to understand what people mean by the term poor nowadays.

I agree with grannytotwins, too many going to food banks and yet have full lash extensions and shellac nails. Some also have the latest phone as well and yet can't buy food. Disgraceful.
However if a food parcel was promised. It should be delivered.

They are doing the right thing by checking on social media. It was unfortunate in your case, but as someone who works in a charitable sector I have seen those who try to cheat the system. One regular family turns up in a brand new, top of the range car, clearly high, to claim they have no money for food. If they come in today I’ve only got sacks of onions so they’ll have to make soup.

Post the full story on social media, maybe in a non-judgemental way, as you have done on here, so that others can decide whether to use them or not.

Yup, @jaylucy, there ARE people who get food from banks and sell it - I'm not sure whether to be outraged or to congratulate them on their business acumen! .

I have to wonder why you posted on social media about your donations in the first place? To that end, check your security on your account - if this organisation can read your posts , other people can.
I would say that they may well check out the people that request help. Sad as it may seem, it's not beyond some people to get help when they don't actually need it and then flog it on ebay or Gumtree! I have actually seen that a few times- one friend had a knock on her door , opened it, and there was a woman with a shopping trolley on wheels, asking her if she would like to buy a Christmas hamper - she had more than one and when asked where they were from, was told that she had been given them by a charity and didn't like what was in them !!!

That’s inexcusable and you should have been informed that your hamper wasn’t being delivered, not fobbed off with lies. You are not being unreasonable and have every right to feel aggrieved.

Old gimmerl hits the nail on the head. You missed an opportunity to drive round, get your deserved hamper and share with the volunteer staff what had happened and put your side of the story. Only death prevents asserting yourself. Go out and share, stop whatever meanness about you is within the organisation you are asking for help from ASSSERT your side of the situation. Go on now enjoy gifts that have been donated freely as you have done.

Trouble is there are so many who are trying to ‘screw’ the system that we all suffer. I am so sorry you had this experience

oh gosh, what a sorry state this country has descended into

prayers for you Poohbear and everyone... loving kindness so needed.

I'm going against the grain a bit here.

I think the actions of the Charity were probably due to ineptitude than anything else.

The workers are likely to be volunteers and I know from experience that communication can be poor in charitable organisations.

I think the "judgementalism" arose from a justifiable need to check that the recipients of goods are genuine.

You posted on social media that you were giving stuff away - the charity drew the conclusion that you were not in need after all. What else did you expect?

Anyway, good luck with the Universal Credit. When (if) you meet with your Work Coach next it may be worth checking that you've done everything you can to maximise your income. Your JCP may also be offering Food Bank Vouchers.

I don't think people realise how often people check FB, it is well known that prospective employers and the police do as well as newspaper reporters.
This is often how benefit cheats get caught, some claim disability benefits and then post pictures of themselves doing activities which they are not supposed to be capable of.
I am sorry you felt let down.

Very sad story Poohbear don't judge the whole organisation by the actions of one person though. Unfortunately some people abuse any sort of power or control they have.
I hope 2020 is a better year for you and your family.

Im awfully sorry you have had this awful experience. I really don't know what else to say apart from I hope things work out for you and that 2020 will be better. Take care.

Doodle I suppose as I was following their Facebook page they could see mine.
BlueBelle yes I can see what it looked like on the surface
GagaJo sometimes we have to donate to ones we might not be so keen on if that is the chosen charity. I did post a a comment on their social media and they removed it and that is when the boss came on to pm's and told me why. I explained my bigger picture and true circumstances to him which is why he offered me the chance to pick one up.
Alexa no he does not know me as a person so I agree it is not personal

totally agree that it looked like I was not in poverty but to me it was my little way of helping others.

Well if an example of how not to handle a situation like this was needed, this is it pooohbear; how horrible for you.

I hope that the New Year brings both an improvement in your health and circumstances.

Poohbear I am sorry you have been the victim of inefficiency which has understandably offended you and amounts to rudeness on the part of the organiser responsible. I hope you might feel a little better if you consider the rudeness was not a measure of disrespect towards you personally.

The organiser was stupidly presumptuous. I hope you have no more trouble of this sort. No doubt other recipients have suffered similarly.