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Bankuet

I read a news piece last year about this boy who came up with the idea of putting stickers on certain items in the supermarket that said “FOOD BANK”.

The idea was to increase donations to food bank baskets in supermarkets, the problem being that shoppers forget about contributing to the basket until it’s too late, they’ve done their shop and they’re leaving. The sticker system would remind shoppers about the food bank and nudge them towards the most-needed and helpful items.

I’ve never seen this sticker system implemented anywhere and I don’t understand why – it is a stroke of genius!

Because it’s easy to forget to give to food banks. And it’s impossible to fathom the massive scale of donations that are needed, all the time. So remembering as you go round the supermarket or remembering to bring stuff in for those boxes they leave at schools… that’s all very well but none of it feels very efficient. It’s not just about relying on kindness – we’re all bloody kind – it’s about relying on people’s memories and if mine is anything to go by, God help you.

You can of course add food bank gift voucher things to your online shop, (you can at Ocado, I imagine other stores are the same), but I was also cruising round the internet wondering if my local food bank in Islington would accept a supermarket order. No, we don’t want that, it said – and prompted me instead to donate monthly via Bankuet.

Through Bankuet you can make a one-off donation or set up a direct debit and then the food bank can buy the most-requested or in-demand goods for the demographic of the particular area.

I would love it if I could pay my taxes and then confidently leave child poverty and hunger to the government to sort out, but I’m not sure that it’s wise to leave the care of society’s poorest children totally to the caprice of politicians and policy. One incumbent may not consider it to be their job to feed the poorest children year-round, another may want to but aren’t able to do the maths. I read somewhere that it’s a “shame” that food banks have to exist and I thought yeah… I see what you mean, but let’s not use the word shame, let’s just consider them to be a form of direct, practical giving.

A lot of people say the need for food banks is a scandal, but I don’t think so. Does the existence of food banks mean that we have failed? Or does it mean that we have succeeded in responding to a problem? There ought to be more food banks in my view: bigger, better, open daily with targeted donations of things that people really need.

There will always be a certain percentage of society that needs urgent help and families fall through the cracks so quickly: just because it hasn’t happened to you or me doesn’t mean it couldn’t. And if it did, I’d want to live in a world where there were food banks, contributed to by rich ladies setting up direct debits.

I set up my direct debit to Bankuet today and, yes, I am virtue signalling. Why not set one up to your local food bank via Bankuet and then virtue signal in the comments box below? Honestly, it feels great.

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Comments

  1. Raichelle Weller says

    October 27, 2020 at 10:18 am

    Done it…never felt so angry about doing something like this ever, but here we are. Thanks for highlighting this, I’m going to share it with my work colleagues also.

    Reply
  2. Cia says

    October 27, 2020 at 10:23 am

    I run a foodbank, we organise fresh and frozen items to be delivered to families as the food banks generally only offer dried and canned goods (storage). If you can please, please find your nearest one and donate food or cold hard cash directly to them. All these schemes are obviously fab but not all food banks benefit from them (Esther totally get that your local one does and that is brilliant, not criticising!) and some of those in the most needy areas really miss out on those donations because let’s face it’s easier to set up a direct debit and not think about it rather than have to remember each week, I completely get that! I think London foodbanks are far more technologically able than most smaller ones. Anyway, sorry to be all lecturey.

    Done!

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 27, 2020 at 11:26 am

      no not lecturey, it’s all interesting

      Reply
    • Frances says

      October 27, 2020 at 11:49 am

      I agree, re geographic/technology spread. I just looked it up and there is only one food bank in the whole of Wales on the site. While on maternity leave(s) I used to be very diligent and go to Boots once a month and fill a bag with toiletries etc and drop it to my local food bank (run by Salvation Army). But now I’m back working and school running and buy everything online like a true heathen I’ve fallen out of the habit. Thank you Esther for the reminder!

      Reply
      • Peter Bowden says

        November 5, 2020 at 11:40 am

        Frances, I’ve been volunteering for Bankuet since last year, tryin gto get more non London food banks ‘signed up’. I think many are nervous that it’s some kind of scam so, if you know your local food bank, one of the best things yo could do for them – and your local community, would b to let them know about Bankuet and ask them to look into it. If every foodbank was part of this, not only would it increase the bulk buy savings Bankuet could make for them, but also everyone could donate locally and not just to the nearest Bankuet ‘sign up’.

        Cheers

        Peter

        Reply
      • Anonymous says

        November 7, 2020 at 2:00 pm

        Frances, if you are in Wales the one that is on there is run by my friends and in a very deprived area so they’d appreciate all the support they can get until others join! X

        Reply
  3. Angela O'Donovan says

    October 27, 2020 at 10:54 am

    Done! Thanks for the info. Why don’t more people know about it??
    I’m going to post on Next door.

    I like the sticker idea too.

    Reply
  4. Kate says

    October 27, 2020 at 10:57 am

    Morrison’s do grab bags for donations to food banks, they do this online as well. The hope is other supermarkets might do this too. Always contact yoir local foodbanks, their wishlists are often vastly different. If you follow this link you can put in your postcode and see what’s needed for trussell trust foodbanks
    https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/ways-to-give/donate-food/

    Toiletries often go overlooked – shower gel and soap, shampoo, baby soap/shampoo, baby wipes, plus household cleaning bits like washing up liquid, laundry powder and antibacterial spray. Plus chocolate coins or treats for Christmas

    You all need to follow @MarcusRashford as he is using his twitter feed to direct to local support this half term. He has also started a petition to end child poverty

    https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/554276/

    There is also the website below, a postcode search connects to free meals for children this half term @HalfTermMeals

    https://helpoutwhenschoolsout.co.uk

    I know so much about this becuse as a Headteacher we are desperately signposting to food banks and support to help local families in need. It should not be necessary. Please share the links.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 27, 2020 at 11:26 am

      Thanks for this Kate x

      Reply
  5. Anna K says

    October 27, 2020 at 11:43 am

    I think the need for food banks does mean we have failed. The truth is that if you or I were in a situation where we needed this kind of help we would not want to have to go and collect donated groceries from a church hall. I’d want a government who provided the infrastructure and financial support that allowed me to shop for my family, like everyone else.
    Yes, the rich ladies should be paying for it – through taxes.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 27, 2020 at 12:53 pm

      I don’t know exactly how I’d feel if I needed that kind of help but on balance I reckon I’d probably rather food banks existed than not. I guess the “truth” is that, no, I wouldn’t want to have to use a food bank but the “truth” is also that if the help from the government fell short of what I needed and I HAD to use a food bank, I’d like to use one that was organised and well-appointed

      Reply
      • elfinkate says

        October 28, 2020 at 12:10 am

        I agree with you Anna, but Esther is also right – there isn’t the government infrastructure there and people are hungry, and can’t feed their kids. It’s like saying ‘I’d rather my gangrene were treated in a state of the art hospital’ while lying mortally wounded on a battlefield with the choice between your mate Jim and a fully trained field doctor tending to you: there’s an immediate job to be done, then you seek something better. We can do activism to end child poverty (which I don’t think its a necessary or inevitable feature of society, it would be thinkable to end it) and also in the meantime donate to food banks.

        Reply
  6. Anne Ayles says

    October 27, 2020 at 12:19 pm

    Set up by my friend Robin! I’ll send him this blog post. He’ll be thrilled. Thank you Esther!

    Reply
  7. Sue Madelin says

    October 27, 2020 at 2:27 pm

    Flipping marvellous idea! Thanks for sharing. My local food bank isn’t a member but I’ve set up a general donation and will also try and be much more mindful of buying items for the local food bank when I’m doing my weekly shop. I would also love the stickers as then you know that you are buying items that they actually want and need. I always like to put some frivolous items in too though as everyone needs a chocolate biscuit every now and then.

    And whilst I agree that the rich ladies should be paying through taxes I’m pretty sure most of us already are paying our taxes. The more money we earn the more tax we pay – so unless anyone is directly evading their taxes then we are already contributing to our country’s revenue. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t also give to charity if we see a need for it and want to.

    Reply
    • Cia says

      October 27, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      I don’t think the question is ‘are you paying your taxes?’ More ‘of course we’re paying our taxes so why isn’t there the right support for the most vulnerable’. I agree as Esther has said that if food banks have to be used ideally (if they were well funded) people would like to use one that was well stocked, had choices, was well organised and allowed people their dignity. In the best case scenario though we wouldn’t have them at all because the government would use our tax money to invest in those who need it rather than a bridge with a garden on it that didn’t even get built (insert other government funded frivolity here).

      Reply
      • esthermcoren says

        October 27, 2020 at 5:31 pm

        Ah yes the garden bridge… thank you for that reminder …

        Reply
  8. Rebecca Stokoe says

    October 27, 2020 at 4:21 pm

    This has really lifted my spirits, thank you ladies. I’m so sad and angry that not only have 322 influential adults voted not to feed hungry children, but that some of them have also started to use ‘do-gooder’ as a term of abuse, which seems mad. I work in a school in a deprived area, and it all feels quite personal as I don’t see the wider picture so much as actual hungry families. I’m going to be spending the next few weeks trying to sort something out for the Christmas holidays, and can assure you that any help given but kind people will be very much appreciated, regardless of the politics.

    Reply
  9. Anonymous says

    October 27, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    I have written to my MP however. The woman voted against support for my pupils while claiming £50,000 expenses in a year.

    Reply
  10. Anne says

    October 27, 2020 at 5:50 pm

    In Warwickshire there are also ‘social supermarkets’ – you can get a damn big bag of shopping for a couple of quid; don’t know if there are any entry qualifications. Our Sainsbury’s also has its foodbank baskets just by the exit so you are always reminded of the opportunity to help.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 27, 2020 at 6:17 pm

      “Social supermarkets”? that sounds really interesting I will look it up

      Reply
  11. Jane says

    October 27, 2020 at 10:41 pm

    This excerpt from a Dispatches programme last year about food poverty breaks my heart every time I watch it. It’ scandalous for children to be without access to a fresh, balanced and full diet in one of the richest countries in the world; the physical effects are all too visible in these children. They are talking about a social supermarket in the video – you pay a small entry charge to choose a set number of items, including some fresh produce.

    https://twitter.com/c4dispatches/status/1200927491134820353?s=21

    The stickers idea is a good one. Another that I’ve come across in SW London is where volunteers give out shopping lists at the supermarket entrance. It’s really effective because it’s a reminder to pick things up as you do your own shopping, and you can be sure you’re buying the things they need that week.

    Reply
  12. Clara G says

    October 28, 2020 at 7:09 am

    Thank God for the people who dedicate time and effort to making these initiatives happen. I will definitely sign up.
    However we shouldn’t need to do this. Our society should not be allowing anyone to fall into (or be born into) a situation where they are hungry and cold. We need a government that implements fundamental structural change.
    The “truth” is that it’s unlikely that many people here will find ourselves in a situation where we’d need a food bank because we’re lucky that society is structured in our favour. We’ll feel better by donating to food banks but if we want to stop future generations of children going to bed hungry we need to be prepared to elect politicians who would implement fundamental change. Accepting that there will always be poor people is part of the problem.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 28, 2020 at 7:55 am

      I see what you’re saying

      Reply
  13. Nicki Francis says

    October 28, 2020 at 6:28 pm

    Something I discovered very recently is that you can donate your Tesco clubcard vouchers to charities, including the trussell trust through the clubcard website. I’m very guilty of getting to the food bank box at the exit of the supermarket and remembering it then so have done a monthly donation, but I urge you to donate vouchers too – it’s very easy to do.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 29, 2020 at 8:21 am

      Nicki thanks for this tip

      Reply
      • Louise says

        November 12, 2020 at 1:06 pm

        Thank you Nicki – just looked into this, dug out my Clubcard account details, realised I had £14 in vouchers sitting there and donated them to the Trussell Trust. What a great feeling. Thanks Esther for highlighting this issue and some practical ways we can all help x

        Reply
  14. Anonymous says

    October 29, 2020 at 9:28 am

    The company you are signposting to is a for profit company with shareholders who will directly profit from people donating to food banks. People should be aware of this and any affiliate links or interests you may have in this.

    Reply
    • esthermcoren says

      October 29, 2020 at 9:31 am

      Thanks for pointing this out, which is sometimes I certainly didn’t know. I don’t have any links to this company, or interests in it, I just came across it.

      Reply
    • Frances says

      November 1, 2020 at 1:54 pm

      Is Banquet really a for-profit company? Am I the only one who thinks that it’s a really morally problematic business concept??

      Reply
    • Louise says

      November 1, 2020 at 2:12 pm

      Another thank you for raising awareness of this company. It sounds like a great idea. I’ve been donating with the Ocado vouchers, where they match a donation and then donate food to that value.

      I have no links with Bankuet, but I just wanted to respond to the point above as I think this company does valuable work and I wouldn’t want people to be put off donating.

      I have just done a bit of research on this point and it certainly does not appear to be the case that there are anonymous shareholders making a profit out of this company. The FAQs on the site say clearly that 5% of donations go towards running costs, but also that for every £1 donated, about £1.10-£1.20 worth of food goes to the foodbank because they are able to buy in bulk. According to Companies House, the founder owns more than 75% of the shares and is involved in the actual running of the company.

      I agree with the general comments above around the need for foodbanks – however, much people might wish they were unnecessary, they are, and a company such as this makes it easy for people to donate and ensures that the most needed donations are purchased and distributed in a cost efficient way will do a lot of good. It could not exist without people who have the skills and time to pull it together and it is entirely reasonable that they should get a salary for doing so. I think to say that people are profiting off others’ need for foodbanks is a very unfair representation of what is being done here and it would be a shame if people were put off donating as a consequence.

      Reply
      • esthermcoren says

        November 1, 2020 at 4:59 pm

        Louise thank you for looking into is on all our behalf!

        Reply
  15. Taliyana says

    October 30, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Thanks for raising awareness of this issue. Where I live on a new build housing estate the local community have just set up a food bank out side someone’s house and people can come and collect donated food from 8am to 8pm 7 days a week. We have a local Facebook page and requests for donations of food are on the Facebook pages. Most people do not trust this government to make sure that children don’t go hungry,especially during school holidays at this time. Most people care and want to help.

    Reply

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