Ever Used A Foodbank

[nailit]

Against all the odds ive managed to secure myself an interview with my local foodbank with a view to doing some voluntary work for them. Just been researching their (local) website, trying to educate myself a bit b4 interview, and was wondering if any ABers had any practical experience of using these or know of anyone who has.
Thanks.

[andy-hughes]

divebuddy - are you hard-wired to pick a fight every time you post?

Maybe you can get counselling for it.

[Mamyalynne]

It would be a dreadful shame if this thread dissolved into a squabble like the majority have done on here lately.


Good luck Nailit.

[EDDIE51]

Hope you get the job nalit, you are already sounding a lot more positive than when you asked the question about Humans being a 'cancer on the Earth'
What using the food bank taught me was that they are not just used by 'work shy scroungers' The vast majority are just as I was , my pension credit was stopped due to a misunderstanding between 2 government departments , tax credit and pension credit, each was waiting for the other to contact them. In the meantime I was stuck with no money for 7 weeks! It was only due to the CAB who used their 'direct access' phone number only available to the CAB and benefit advisers to sort it out that I started getting paid again.

[Patsy33]

I try to remember to put a few items in our local Tescos when we do big food shop. OH asked why I want to give to people that don't want to work...I said it's all sorts of people
A lot do work but still haven't got enough money left over for food after paying bills.
Anyway, hope you get your job Nailit

[Cloverjo]

Eddie, I don't know why gov departments don't communicate with each other. It's a nightmare. Thankfully, I've never been without money for 7 weeks, but I've traipsed from one place to another waiting and filling in various forms at opposite ends of the city.

Like you, I don't believe that most people on benefits are scroungers. It's just hard luck sometimes.

[pastafreak]

Situations like what EDDIE has described are what are now making ordinary people in need of food banks, and,in some cases,homeless.
I believe our local food bank-Trussell Trust-limits vouchers to 5 times in a 12 month period. I assume this is to limit abuse of the system.

[anneasquith]

Good luck nailit,

[EDDIE51]

Then there was another problem. When I eventually got my 7 weeks backdated money the local council picked up on it and cancelled my housing benefit. They assumed I was getting 7 times my actual income as the Pension credit dept told them I had recieved over £800 in a week. That took another 5 weeks to sort out and I was getting demands for £1200 for overpayment of housing benefit!

[Patsy33]

What a bladdy shambles Eddie! It seems that powers that be have helped to create food bank situation ggrrr!

[tonyav]

Best of luck, nailit.

[Togo]

Hi Nails, missed your post last night, but can I wish you good luck duck. I have never used one but we have donated( a Christmas thing) . Once again good luck.

[yogi-bear]

Never used one, always donate weekly to ours....so essential for those who need help at a time, that could happen to anyone, at any period in their lives.

A credit to you, Nailit.....I have nothing but respect for you, going for this position, and wish you the very best of luck at the interview next week. :-)

[petal54]

I donate animal food for our local food bank

[wolf63]

Nailit

Good luck with the interview.

DWP/DHSS (or whatever they were called) used to issue food vouchers in some circumstances. I think that they were marked 'no alcohol and no tobacco'. That was years and years ago.

Crisis loans were another way to get emergency money but that system was open to abuse.

[Jackdaw33]

Vouchers have always been open to abuse. When I was young there lived next door to me a lady who had the best of everything. What she did was offer to buy Provident tickets for 50% of their value. People would take out a £10 'Provvy' then sell it to her for £5 so they had cash for fags and booze.

[Lie-in King]

Sorry I missed this & hope I'm not too late in adding a "Good luck" to you with the interview, nailit :-)

[Smowball]

Good luck nailit. Sorry for delay but AB seriously playing up on iPad today and have only managed to get on three times out of about 100 attempts!
I've never used a food bank but I donate regularly to my local one and they are always in need.

[nailit]

Thanks for all additional replies and 'good luck' wishes guys.
Its only an interview so far (on Monday) at this stage, just hope they don't want a CRB/DBS check (or whatever its called nowadays). Getting fed up with knockbacks because ive made a few bad choices in life. Got a good feeling about this one though.