Do People Have To Show Proof They Are In Need?

[Barsel]

Just been reading about some shops that are popping up around Greater Manchester where you can get a full food shop for £3 and it's £5 a year to join. I was thinking of donating some food myself, but do the people who shop there have to show proof they are poor or can anyone just join? Some of the comments left are quite cruel, accusing parents of spending money on cigarettes and drink possibly drugs and I would be unsure about donating if I thought that anyone could join.

[andres]

Used to have a shop similar to these in our town a couple of years ago. Short priced stock,supermarkets donated items instead of throwing them away etc. You had to pay £1 to be a member and show your card when buying items. Everything was very cheap .Run by volunteers Didn't last more than 12 months though. Too many people were buying at ridiculously cheap prices and selling the goods on to their mates in the local pubs. Also the volunteers started to drift away and eventually the shop closed.

[woofgang]

It seems that the donations are short date, mislabelled and so on so it saves food waste as well as feeds those in need. There is also a project called 2good2go that anyone can sign up for. https://toogoodtogo.co.uk/en-gb/

[joeski53]

Normally they are vulnerable on low incomes, generally under some care worker or benefit, the majority have large families with not enough coming in, in some case they are waiting for their benefits or theyve been suspended for non attendance of a job seekers review, all sorts of reasons, i think when you go in you have to discuss your predicament with the organisation running it. I dare say the system isnt foolproof!!