If you think you got it tough...

[Lori]

That was really hard to listen to. I hope he makes it through OK.

 

[LinekersLegs]

Given our wealth as a society it is appalling there are people who can't afford to eat anywhere in the world let alone in rich countries like the UK and USA.

Some of the best deals in groceries are when you buy in bulk but that often means being able to afford a membership to a chain, then the cashflow to buy more than you need immediately and the room, especially freezer space, to store it until you can use it. All of which are out of the reach of people literally eating hand to mouth.

 

[Elong]

Swerving this thread big time.

 

[Milk]

Supermarkets donate pallets of food at least a month left on their shelf life, but costs them too much to distribute then withdraw if it doesn't sell. The whole system is an embarrassing, consumerist hell.

They don't do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

Food waste - by all of us - is one of the great "crimes" of the modern era.
BOGOFs, All-you-can-eat places, food challenges (such as those demonstrated by Man Vs Food) and "special offers" encourage 1st world consumers to over eat and over buy.
Sell by dates are another con to get people to throw out food too soon then have to re-order.

Slightly off topic I know but it's an unnecessary waste

 

[Donald Twain]

I volunteer at my local Christian food bank and this month has been hard going . It usually is, but this time of year it really hits home how desperate times are for some folks. Please think of others around where you live , especially the elderly! Knock on their doors to speak to them , see if they need anything . If all that sounds too daunting , a smile as you pass them in the street goes a long way to lifting spirits .

 

[Tramps_mate]

The government provide housing and benefits for people to get a roof over their head. Does he not receive help? Iv seen people moaning they can't afford to eat but they buy booze and cigs with their benefit money.. Some sympathy for him but not for those that won't help themselves and would rather wallow in self pity..

 

[Kurt.]

The government provide housing and benefits for people to get a roof over their head. Does he not receive help? Iv seen people moaning they can't afford to eat but they buy booze and cigs with their benefit money.. Some sympathy for him but not for those that won't help themselves and would rather wallow in self pity..

And what about those not on benefits ? You know, the ones who work hard for pittance ?

 

[The Cowboy]

I lived in London throughout the 1980s and there was an awful lot of beggars. There is still those on the streets but less. I read somwhere that there are more short term shelters in London that elsewhere and a lot of money has been put into keeping people off the street. It seems to be working as I see very few when I go down to London these days.

Y'see, this is why I don't like the use of food banks being used as a flat universal measure of increasing poverty. You could just as easily say the falling number of homeless seen on the streets of London means poverty is decreasing. It's a handy stat that all anti-coalition folk use, whereas the whole situation is far more complex.

Note: absolutely not trying to deny the coalition cuts have had devastating effect on low earners, merely that food bank use alone is not a good enough measure.

 

[The Cowboy]

I lived in London throughout the 1980s and there was an awful lot of beggars. There is still those on the streets but less. I read somwhere that there are more short term shelters in London that elsewhere and a lot of money has been put into keeping people off the street. It seems to be working as I see very few when I go down to London these days.

Y'see, this is why I don't like the use of food banks being used as a flat universal measure of increasing poverty. You could just as easily say the falling number of homeless seen on the streets of London means poverty is decreasing. It's a handy stat that all anti-coalition folk use, whereas the whole situation is far more complex.

Note: absolutely not trying to deny the coalition cuts have had devastating effect on low earners, merely that food bank use alone is not a good enough measure.

 

[The Cowboy]

They don't do it out of the goodness of their hearts.

Food waste - by all of us - is one of the great "crimes" of the modern era.
BOGOFs, All-you-can-eat places, food challenges (such as those demonstrated by Man Vs Food) and "special offers" encourage 1st world consumers to over eat and over buy.
Sell by dates are another con to get people to throw out food too soon then have to re-order.

Slightly off topic I know but it's an unnecessary waste

I know, that's kinda what my point was. It's cheaper for them to give it away than have to go to the hassle of recalling it. Maybe they should just make/stock less.

 

[hullefc]

Y'see, this is why I don't like the use of food banks being used as a flat universal measure of increasing poverty. You could just as easily say the falling number of homeless seen on the streets of London means poverty is decreasing. It's a handy stat that all anti-coalition folk use, whereas the whole situation is far more complex.

Note: absolutely not trying to deny the coalition cuts have had devastating effect on low earners, merely that food bank use alone is not a good enough measure.

In a way those down and out on the streets, and going to soup kitchens, are the more visible signs of poverty and despair. What the caller to LBC highlighted was that poverty and despair are still there but hidden behind closed doors.

 

[AndyC]

For years, my brother, his missus and kids have worked every Christmas Day morning in some kind of a food/soup kitchen to give those less fortunate the chance of a warm meal. They now live in a small village France and do the same thing there too and the local community has bought into it bigtime in that everyone now rallies round and help each other out. Only last night, my missus suggested we do something extra this year and we'll be making a substantial food donation to our local church.

As Evertonians, I'd like to see the club do another food collection at the Boxing Day game - if 39,000 people all brought even just a couple of canned items to that game, what a food donation that would make to the local food banks around the area... come on Blues, let's do it !!

 

[Del]

For years, my brother, his missus and kids have worked every Christmas Day morning in some kind of a food/soup kitchen to give those less fortunate the chance of a warm meal. They now live in a small village France and do the same thing there too and the local community has bought into it bigtime in that everyone now rallies round and help each other out. Only last night, my missus suggested we do something extra this year and we'll be making a substantial food donation to our local church.

As Evertonians, I'd like to see the club do another food collection at the Boxing Day game - if 39,000 people all brought even just a couple of canned items to that game, what a food donation that would make to the local food banks around the area... come on Blues, let's do it !!

Why not email the club to see if its something they've thought of doing again this year

 

[Deleted member 28206]

For years, my brother, his missus and kids have worked every Christmas Day morning in some kind of a food/soup kitchen to give those less fortunate the chance of a warm meal. They now live in a small village France and do the same thing there too and the local community has bought into it bigtime in that everyone now rallies round and help each other out. Only last night, my missus suggested we do something extra this year and we'll be making a substantial food donation to our local church.

As Evertonians, I'd like to see the club do another food collection at the Boxing Day game - if 39,000 people all brought even just a couple of canned items to that game, what a food donation that would make to the local food banks around the area... come on Blues, let's do it !!

I would give up time on Christmas day doing similar. I'm going to follow this up.

 

[AndyC]

Why not email the club to see if its something they've thought of doing again this year

E-mail duly sent... will advise later the response