Food banks

[vetran]

I cant help feeling that the existence of food banks helps to shore up a move to american style welfare, where ordinary decent people end up sleeping in storm drains

that is definitely a worry.

However I suspect its a combination of systems being bust and pettiness of the administrators.

I'm not sure its 'Policy'.

[Platypus]

Ive not yet had to refer anyone to a food bank but suspect it is only a matter of time. If one of the main issues is poor administration of the benefits system then that is truly disgusting. Not to mention targets for jobcentre staff to sanction people for being one minute late or failing to make 10 pointless job applications. I cant help feeling that the existence of food banks helps to shore up a move to american style welfare, where ordinary decent people end up sleeping in storm drains

I know several Americans who firmly believe that anyone in America who is poor chooses to be poor. Anyone who is homeless chooses to be homeless. It became clear to me upon enquiry that they do actually believe this, and would not entertain any alternate point of view.

[vetran]

I know several Americans who firmly believe that anyone in America who is poor chooses to be poor. Anyone who is homeless chooses to be homeless. It became clear to me upon enquiry that they do actually believe this, and would not entertain any alternate point of view.

Dangerous idea. Some do choose to be on benefits by inaction, but many don't.

[EternalOptimist]

I know several Americans who firmly believe that anyone in America who is poor chooses to be poor. Anyone who is homeless chooses to be homeless. It became clear to me upon enquiry that they do actually believe this, and would not entertain any alternate point of view.

there are many more than a few. One of the big objections to Obamacare is that it is 'socialism'.
That country is going bonkers right now, with half of them wanting to kill the other half. not nice

[socialworker]

that is definitely a worry.

However I suspect its a combination of systems being bust and pettiness of the administrators.

I'm not sure its 'Policy'.

I dont know, without going over to Guardian style paranoia there seems to be evidencefor a very hardline attitude from jobcentres and people losing benefit for pretty trivial things. Certainly since going back to frontline workin the last year every disabled person of working age I meet seems panic stricken about ending up unable to make ends meet. Some may have been justified but it is a case of too much at once- bedroom tax, work capability assessments by atos, universalcredit. Lots of people who are in illhealth, middle aged and long term unemployed are already isolated anxious and depressed. No wonder some are terrified.

[pjclarke]

A rare piece of good news, Tesco is to divert all surplus (ie mislabelled, over-delivered etc) food to FairShare via its distribution network, instead of returning it to suppliers ...

Tesco to give surplus fresh food to FareShare to help charities | Environment | theguardian.com

[minestrone]

"LOOK OVER HERE! WE ARE TAKING OUR BAGS OF FOOD TO THE FOOD BANK! YES, OVER HERE! FOOD FOR THE FOOD BANK! WE WANT YOU TO KNOW WE GIVE TO THE FOOD BANK!"

...type behaviour seems to be quite common these days.

[d000hg]

What do you want them to do, wrap it all in brown paper and drop it outside charity doorsteps in the middle of the night?

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Should we as a country try to help those who go to food banks? Or carry on helping those like dodgyagent so they can go to countries like Portugal and leave his kids to be mercy of nonces while he goes on the lash?

[vetran]

A rare piece of good news, Tesco is to divert all surplus (ie mislabelled, over-delivered etc) food to FairShare via its distribution network, instead of returning it to suppliers ...

Tesco to give surplus fresh food to FareShare to help charities | Environment | theguardian.com

Actually I suspect its Tesco's suppliers who are actually donating the food.