Have you ever been to a food bank?

[Amy Jade]

So basically my mums friend has gotten divorced and she was here tonight and she confessed she had been to the local charity food bank, she has 2 kids and she said she was really struggling because they are off school and she was really ashamed and got quite upset over it

It made me think like as much as there is absoloutely NO shame at all in using them it must be a pretty horrible feeling to not be able to feed yourself and your kids. Would you feel bad or ashamed?

[Cal.]

Never been to one but if I needed it I would use it. It's what it's there for.

[_Tom_]

I've never been to one - but wouldn't be ashamed to use one if I was struggling.

Do you have to prove that you really need the food or do they serve anyone that walks in?

[Vicky.]

Never been to one, but I understand her feeling ashamed. Not that I believe there is anything top be ashamed about but this whole foodbank/poorpeople/benefits situation in the media conditions people to think someone falling on hard times is nothing but a scrounger. Its an awful situation, but sadly one that the general public seem quite happy to continue with, and a LOT of people believe the bull**** about it too which makes it even worse.

[Amy Jade]

I've never been to one - but wouldn't be ashamed to use one if I was struggling.

Do you have to prove that you really need the food or do they serve anyone that walks in?

My mum didn't really ask much but I think you just walk in and have a quick chat about who lives with you so they can help pick appropriate food items

I thi k you can only go once a month as well but I could be mixing that up with something else

[Jessica.]

I have eaten donated food a few times in my childhood and teenage years. It was nice when we had nothing at Christmas time, our house had flooded and we had no electricity either, they gave us cooked chickens and stuff. They always gave stuff to make you feel normal like tea bags, sugar etc.. Instead of just what you need to survive.

Some places don't really ask about your income etc.. But other times someone came to our house to check who lived there and look at pay slips etc.. to make sure we really needed help.

[Marsh.]

I've never been to one - but wouldn't be ashamed to use one if I was struggling.

Do you have to prove that you really need the food or do they serve anyone that walks in?

I think the council give you coupons and send you there.