Jesus said "there is more happiness in giving than receiving" [Acts 20:35 Good News Translation] Last week I offered to pay for something, and the person refused payment, so I said I'd make a donation to the Foodbank.
When I do a supermarket shop, I pop a couple of extra cans in the trolley and then deposit them in the collection bin by the door. But it is a bit haphazard, and I admit I often just pull out odd tins from my multipacks of beans or tomatoes.
So I am grateful to Lidl for their new "Good to Give" programme. They've labelled certain products as useful to the Foodbank, by putting the logo on the shelf. I thanked the manager and said it was very useful.
These make it so much easier to get a varied selection of foods - not just beans, tomatoes and pasta [useful though these are] I'd intended to spend £5, but then saw the choc chip cookies. I hope other supermarkets follow this lead, and continue to help families in need.
I always shop online, and many online supermarkets allow you to 'buy' a donation to food charity. So I usually add a donation to my online shop. In the past when I used to go to the shops I included items for the food bank collections; I'm glad I can still contribute online.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter mentioned the online donation facility. I've also noticed a number of online sites now offer the option of "rounding up to the £" on your purchase, to make a small charity donation.
DeleteLooks a good selection to me.
ReplyDelete👍
DeleteThat is really useful! I know often they are short of tins of meat and fish. I wanted to fill a container with washing up liquid from my refill place as I know they fill small bottles to give to families
ReplyDeleteThat's an intelligent gift. Many food banks appreciate non-food essentials (esp detergents, nappies and sanpro)
DeleteI need to go out today and do my Foodbank shop at Sainsbury's, something I always do when I've saved my normal food spending money due to doing a challenge on the blog. I never know whether to publicise the fact that I've done it and hope it inspires others, or just keep quiet and avoid that 'showing off' feeling I get.
ReplyDeleteI think it is inspiration to others, and I wouldn't regard your comment as "virtue signalling" as it's often called. I remember once when a friend announced "For Lent I am giving up my daily Mars Bar" and I asked what she would do with the money saved. "Oh, I never thought of that. I could give it to charity!" she said.
DeleteWhat a good idea.
ReplyDeleteEvery little helps
DeleteIt's so important to realize these little things really do add up. Your post was a happy one to read today.
ReplyDeleteJudging by the number of comments, it has clearly resonated with others too
DeleteWe've doubled up on our food bank donations, as around here donations have dropped off dramatically lately.
ReplyDeleteIf people are struggling due to the cost of living rise, they may no longer have the money to help food banks.
Our local food bank was asking for Anti Perspirants last week, and as chance would have it, I'd ordered a multipack of 12 of my usual cream Anti Perspirants from Amazon, (cheapest way) but for the first time ever, it gave me a rash, so 11 Dove Original Anti Perspirant creams found a new home!
If every shopper pops just one item into the food bank trolley/box, it would help so much!
Do you know that in 1887, Glasgow Celtic Football Club played a match with all proceeds going to help the 'poor and hungry' in Glasgow's east end.
1887! 135 years ago, and here we are still needing food banks!
Something's gone terribly wrong somewhere. X
That was a very rash donation! Yes - it is horrifying to realise that poverty remains rife in our country
DeleteThat is a great idea. I buy tinned meat and food with meat in it for our food shelf. I think of kids having to make their own meals and buy accordingly when food on sale.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good approach. And protein is important. People need something to go with the pasta and rice!
DeleteGrocery shopping is not my favourite activity and just concentrating on what I should buy and carry is enough, most days. I decided long ago that I would give a regular monetary donation instead. We can slip a cheque into a donation box in a local bank, and that money helps to buy the perishable items that are necessary for the food bank.
ReplyDeleteAgain another very helpful comment. Most food banks prefer to source their own fresh veg and fruit (so they can be sure it IS fresh) Your generosity helps to fund those purchases. Also, for those who may struggle with shops/shopping a direct monetary gift may be easier to manage.
DeleteThat is nice of the grocery store to put up those helpful reminders next to items that are good to donate.
ReplyDeleteOur local news did an investigative report about a local food bank, which is apparently run by a group the county has contracted with and there was footage of the food bank workers dumping donated items, almost as soon as they were delivered! Some of them were boxed goods and others were packaged baked goods (surplus from restaurants and bakeries); they had not reached the sell by/expire by dates, but, according to the news report, their reporters were told that the tossed items would have expired before they could have been distributed. That was very disheartening to see.
That is so sad, and seems so wasteful.
DeleteWhere I teach there is a student food pantry. Hunger has such a negative impact on their learning. Different offices regularly have competitions to see which can raise the most donations. It's sad that we need to do this.
ReplyDeleteI've got into the habit of something going in the foodbank when I pop in. I also know a few people over in the states through Facebook, writing etc and instead of sending housewarming presents,I donate food.
ReplyDeleteI feel that it's so little, but at least it's something.