Food plea for people in need

“Is this really what Great Britain has come to? Our Government should hang their heads in shame.”

“Food banks are the norm now and they're cropping up all over the country at an alarming rate, such is the need for them now. The aim is to have food banks in every town and city in the UK because the demand for them is only going to increase. Matt, most if not all food banks operate a system where everybody needs to be referred by say a GP, health workers, job centre or some organisation, there won't be many food banks where someone can just turn up and expect a food parcel. Also most will limit the amount of food parcels a person/family can have in a week or month.
More people in work are turning to them now and for some people to think it's only for the "scroungers" who spend "their money on tobacco, alcohol or drugs", is ignorance at it's best.”

“I assume Joe Public can't just walk into a drop-in centre and take a food parcel, no questions asked. Does CCP even operate a drop-in centre, or are the food parcels delivered to the properties of those in genuine need only?

Surely there is some degree of vetting before anything is handed out, whether it be at a drop-in centre, or through deliveries. In which case, Dave_t10 is talking rubbish - be thankful you are not in a situation where you need hand-outs such as this.

There is far too much perfectly-good produce wasted, so with a bit of planning the vast majority of it can be re-distributed to those in need, rather than ending up in the bin.

Good on CCP for helping out those in need - keep up the good work.”

“Well done Dave_t10! You obviously know exactly what you're talking about!
Fact of the matter is, food parcels are distributed to people who genuinely need them. Like the part time worker on minimum wage (that's right - he's got an actual job!) who's been recovering from an illness and hasn't been paid for two weeks because he's not well enough to go back to work. The more compassionate members of society, like the people who donate the food, are happy to help out a guy who's down on his luck and just needs a helping hand so that he doesn't starve to death whilst recovering enough to return to work.
Or the 16 year kid who's been sleeping on his mate's sofa for the last week because he's run away from home after being beaten up by his mother's drunken boyfriend. He might have somewhere to sleep for a few nights, but his only possessions are the clothes he's wearing and he's got no money to buy food. And when the charity gives him some food to keep him going for the next few days, they'll also start organising a safe place for him live, they'll provide him with emotional support to help him cope with abuse and homelessness, and they'll help him to work towards getting the training and qualifications he needs to get a job and support himself.
And if you think that situations like this don't happen in Cheltenham, take a closer look around you.....”

“Oh course the charity had been inundated with requests for food, they are giving it away for free. They really don't seem to get that people with no real need will still take free food.

Stand on a street corner giving out free £10 notes, you will get lots of takers.

You won't catch me donating to this farcical scheme, I would much prefer to help out an Animal Shelter.

I refuse to believe that any families are going hungry because they can't afford food in this country, benefit level are so high. If there's any truth in it its because they're spending their money on tobacco, alcohol or drugs instead.

Poverty is practically non-existent in this country, it is out measures of poverty which are a joke, people view not having a mobile phone a designer clothes as poverty. Look to parts of Africa if you want to see poverty and then tell me its like what we have in the UK.”