Just a quick visit to say that the Tesco in Ammanford had many good hearted shoppers today. I took my donation to the collection point and the women manning it said that they had received a really large amount of foodstuffs. Add to that the amount that Tesco will contribute and they are looking at around 1 1/2 TONS of food from the area.
It sounds a lot but the need is massive and is growing daily. If every shopper, who could manage it, gave 1 food item it would help to plug the gap. One never knows what the future has in store, there but for the grace of God go I.
All it takes for a family to go under is an error in the path that trips them up. A small business can be ruined if a customer goes under owing them money, not necessarily a huge amount, enough to stop the cash flow. Before you can turn round they have gone down as well and are maybe penniless. The benefits system is difficult to negotiate and you hear of people waiting weeks for a payment.
Every thing seems to be set up for internet users, what if you can no longer afford the internet and your computer has been repossessed.
Someone who I know signed off from job seekers allowance and it took 3 phone calls. During the last one he was told to fill in a form and take it to the nearest job center, where he was told, no we do not want that, go online and fill it in.
How can you win.
Enough, whinge and moan over.
Normal service will be resumed Sunday sometime.
TTFN Pam
It's so sad, we have two food banks in our city. The nearest to us have said it is mostly families waiting for their benefits to come through after losing their jobs, many companies folded so they didn't get their wages for the last couple of months and then it is about 8 weeks to get the benefits up and running. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteThe food bank has a farmer who donates large buckets of spuds every week but they have to be "free help yourself" rather than in the donation pile as they are not allowed fresh food. Daft as the allotment have surplus but are unable to donate.
It is such a shame that fresh food is not wanted, I am convinced that if a bit of thought was put into it the issues could be resolved. If one day a week was designated as fresh fruit and veg day the people who use the banks would know to get there and get a bag of goodies. All root veg has a decent life and so does some fruit. I would happily make up a few bags of fresh stuff and drop off first thing in the morning.
DeleteIf I ever manage to grow anything I will be dropping some bits off in the farmers bucket. One thing I found out this year about allotment folk is they always try to give you stuff so I will be taking it all with a yes please and passing it on.
DeleteI helped out at our local foodbank a couple of times, and I agree with Julee that its a pity all the food is processed but then its only meant as very short term measure. I think its supposed to be a 3 day stop gap, although apparently they had some of the same people coming back week after week, in which case its not going to teach people to eat healthily. It was good to see that people were also given things like toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, shampoo etc. as well as food as those kinds of things can be so expensive to buy. Pet food was also handed out so that people's loved animals didn't have to suffer.
ReplyDeleteThis weekend the food bank only wanted food, they said that they had plenty of toiletries for the time being. The last time I went before I moved it was loo rolls, shampoo and deodorant that was in short supply.
DeleteForgot to say that I agree about the internet thing. DH has just had to sort out his tax code and as there are now no local tax offices he could visit in person he could only do it online (on a form that required certain information he didn't have because the office at the college had lost the letter he handed in to them which was why he needed to contact the Inland Revenue in the first place) or by phone on an 0845 number that cost money to call. If we'd been in financial difficulties it would have been difficult to use either method. Also, nowadays a lot of local Job Centres have been closed; people from Deal (8 miles away) have to travel to Dover at a cost of around £6 for bus/train every 2 weeks to sign on...and they don't get reimbursed. £3 a week out of a £56 basic benefit is a lot to lose.
ReplyDeleteIt is nigh on impossible to speak to a real person now, I am sure that many older people do not receive all they should because they are unable to understand or even access the information needed.
DeleteHi Pam, I just came here via Kathy's Gates to Yesteryear blog. Are things dire in Wales like they are in many other places in the world at the moment? I live in Australia and I know that some people are struggling. It is interesting to hear what things are like on the other side of the world.
ReplyDeleteHi Nanna Chel. Things are dire here end there in Wales, just as they are elsewhere in the UK. There has been a bit of TV coverage on North Wales, but it is widespread. The issues are often the very poor accommodation, the high cost of trying to keep a rotten and damp flat dry never mind warm combined with the benefits system. I saw walls with fungi growing out of them and water running down the walls, windows that merely filter the wind and rain and roofs that are sieves. If food is supplied that needs heating up it is not used as often the recipient has no power to heat it. Side by side there are palatial homes with sumptuous gardens and 3 car garages, but that is also true in many parts of the world.
ReplyDelete