Food Bank Challenge

Local food bank and how it works

First up, I did a bit of online research on local food banks. I knew of one run by the Islamic community, which displays opening hours and people queue as and when. Everyone is welcome, noreferrals or vouchers required. The nearest "official" one is run by the Trussell Trust and runs on more formal lines.

Currently, they are looking for drivers but not other volunteers, which I would have been up for. They regularly update lists of what they need and what they have plenty of, ie dont need.

Who can access it?

To access it, people can either call them directly or make contact through health services, schools, social services, a local hub, etc. They then have to be issued a voucher to attend the food centre, where they are given a bundle that should last a minimum of three days. The food parcel includes basics like pasta, rice, tinned meat and fish, etc and they will do their best to accommodate dietary, cultural and religious requirements.

Non-food donations

Evidently, Trussell Trust include toiletries, etc in their parcels. They also have sanitary wear and baby essentials available. Morrisons has donation bags packed, priced and ready to pop in your trolley, including non-food items. On that note, Morrisons will give free sanitary products to any woman who asks for them.

Make a meal with leftovers

I definitely overdid the quantity of roasted ratatouille and was determined not to waste it. So the chunky veg were chopped a bit finer, stirred through cooked pasta along with some crispy bacon, leftover cream, a spoon of mustard and topped with grated cheese. A quick blast in the oven and it made a tasty dinner.

Plan three meals with crossover ingredients

Thinking seasonally as well as favourite ingredients, I started planning around butternut squash. Although we generally eat meat or fish with our main meals, I seem to have a veggie plan. I may well add pancetta to the risotto. We have most of the spices already and I will probably scale down some of the recipes as there are just the two of us (now singing!).

Risotto.

Butternut and chickpea salad

Cashew and butternut curry

Preserving food

I have thoroughly enjoyed this and could lose myself in preserving for weeks.

I started with an apple chutney using the last of the harvest from my tree. Most of the other ingredients were dragged out of the back of cupboards, jars repurposed and I've ended up with a ridiculous quantity!

Next up, my first ever attempt at gherkins, which I adore. I bought snack cucumbers and really inexpensive white vinegar. It will be a while before I get to try them, as - like the chutney - they need to sit in the dark for a few weeks. I made a small quantity, just one kilner jar but this was so size and cheap, I will come back to it.

Then I moved on to pickled shallots. Heating the vinegar and spices while I brined the shallots overnight was somewhat pungent and again, I have weeks to wait before I get to try them. They will be ready for Christmas though.

Lastly, jam making. By this time, I had used every jar and resorted to buying a pack from Hobbycraft. Although that obviously impacts the cost, they are cute enough for gifting. I went for plum as they are in season and therefore inexpensive. The amount of sugar used was a real shocker to me (1:1) and if I make jam again, I will look for a way of doing it with less sugar. My favourite commercial brand is made with no added sugar, so it's clearly doable.

The next challenge is to find somewhere in my tiny house to store my preserves.

Donate a basket of food

Morrisons make this ridiculously easy by checking what the local foodbanks need, making up bags to pick up as you go in, pay and drop at the collection point as you leave.

Online donation and food waste apps

Trussell Trust are asking for money online or food donations in person at a drop-off centre. However, Ocado has a great online donation plan. You add a fixed amount to your order which Ocado matches and donates goods.

I've looked into food waste apps and Too Good To Go seems to be popular. I eventually bit the bullet and spent £4 on a Magic Bag from Starbucks. Two rolls and two sweet treats so a good value lunch for two. I wouldn't have chosen any of these items and it ended up costing me as much again because...Frappucino.