Foodbank Challenge

Clause 1

Trussell Trust run food banks in Cowes, Ryde, Newport, Freshwater and Sandown. They are currently desperate for coffee, sponge puddings, deodorant, shampoo, washing up liquid, laundry powder or liquid, toothbrushes and toothpaste. They have donation points at most of the local supermarkets around the Island as well as other shops and some churches.

They need volunteers to collect food from donation points to take it to the warehouse, help sort food, prepare clothing and textiles for resale, help with people using the foodbanks, and with their monthly events. The foodbank also encourages collections for Harvest Festival in September, and runs a reverse Advent Calendar collection in November. I applied to be a volunteer, have had an interview and will start training later this month (subject to references)! 

Aspire Ryde have a free food stall as well as providing meals for locals in need from food donated donated by local businesses and individuals.

Clause 6 and Clause 16 

This says to donate food, but my local food bank was in desperate need of toiletries so I purchased some on my weekly shop at Tesco and left them in the collection basket.

Clause 8: Research the difference between 'Sell By', 'Use By' and ' Best Before'. Learn how to check if food is still edible.

According to the Food Standards Agency, 'Use By' refers to food safety and 'Best Before' relates to quality rather than safety. Accuracy on both depends on whether the food has been stored properly. Remember that food with a 'Use By' date can smell and look OK and actually be dangerous to eat if out of date.

According to Bob Brackett, PhD CFS, Director of the Institute for Food Safety and Health at the Illinois Institute of Technology and IFT , Sell by dates are "..... aimed retailers, and it informs them of the date by which the product should be sold or removed from shelf life. This does not mean that the product is unsafe to consume after the date. Typically one-third of a product's shelf-life remains after the sell-by date for the consumer to use at home."

Products with a 'Best Before' date can be assessed using sensory methods such as smell and sight (look for mould!). Products with a 'Use By' date should not be consumed after this date but may be preserved by freezing for instance as long as they are defrosted and then cooked properly soon after.

Clause 11: Make a meal with leftovers, or with parts of food which you would normally throw away.

I made chicken stock using the carcass of a roast chicken, an onion and some carrots and water, all in the slow cooker. This will be turned into soup or used in a stew later in the month.

Clause 12: Learn about how your local food bank is funded and who can access it. Is it an independent bank or part of a national scheme?

The Isle of Wight Food Bank is funded by the Trussell Trust, which covers utility costs and staffing. Food and sundries are provided by the public.

The other food banks and similar schemes are run by volunteers and funded by donations from the public.

Clause 13: Find out about other parallel schemes in your area e.g. baby essentials banks, period poverty schemes, and school uniform funds.

Baby Box IOW are a local community project, helping Island families in need with baby, toddler and older siblings essentials. Based in Ventnor.

Home Start IOW have a 'drop and swap' for children's clothes.

Period Poverty - all local schools have free sanitary-wear for students (and staff who need them).

The Footprint Trust runs a fuel poverty scheme, which is particularly at the moment.

School Uniform grants are not available from our County Council, but individual schools will discreetly help families who genuinely can't afford it. Local charity shops and the food bank also have school uniform in stock for very low prices.

Clause 14: Research ways that you can preserve food for longer in your kitchen. Try one!

There are many ways of preserving food for longer in the kitchen such as freezing, canning, making jams, jellies and chutneys, and pickling. I tried making apple and blackberry chutney but think it needs cooking a bit longer as it's a bit runny! I also batch cook meals and freeze portions, as well as freezing cake in portions, and herbs.