>> >> I will give you the benefit of the doubt and assume the latter.
>>
>> Possibly. Thank you for your description. I remain almost completely unconvinced that there is any
>> sense in foodbanks other than as a vote-winner for Labour.
You seem a bit fixed on the Labour Propaganda angle.
The growth of foodbanks is certainly an asset for Labour's campaign but that's because they're an open goal. Idea that Trussell trust and other organisers are politically motivated is, to use one of my favourite phrases. Nonsense on Stilts.
A combination of more aggressive benefit conditionality, sanctions and closure of social fund/failure of local welfare - all products of Osborne's war on claimants - led to growth of foodbanks. Structure of Universal Credit and its wait time added more pressure.
Of course the assistance they provide could be delivered in other ways. The DWP could have a system of grants or loans to help claimants in crisis.....
As they stand foodbanks are a response to acute problems not chronic/structural issues. The latter are for government to solve.
You can make light of tinned food but stuff that's not perishable is essential to the model. if you're choosing eat or heat tinned stew is good. Doesn't need to be boring. Mrs B and I do an excellent Saucisse aux Lentilles from tinned stuff that lives in the caravan.
I buy own label stuff for the foodbank box whenever I'm in Tesco. Baked Beans, Cereal or whatever.
The fact is for a large number of people going to a foodbank is exactly the admission/ordeal suggested in the Trussell Trust's page. That existence of a few shameless chancers in no way negates their experience.
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