Posted on by zenya

Banks not just for money

I was watching a report on the Fox News channel about food banks.
The word bank use to mean only a location for saving money with interest, now it means much more .

Food banks are a growing business, hopefully non-profit. There is one called, "Second Harvest" they gather foods from stores and other establishments to distribute to food pantrys and also to food kitchens both feed the poor and hungry.

When I saw this show it brought back a memory of a converstation I had during my days of being a sales rep for many large companies falling under my own company.

I serviced many large retail and grocery chains and often I would discuss with the managers ways of distributing their outdated foods.One of many managers told me this.. " we have tried several times to give our outdated foods however, no one wanted to pick them up" I am sure this was before Second Harvest since this company does have trucks.

How sad this statement was to me.. I use to see beautiful hand made and decorated cakes being thrown into IGOR.. < DUMPSTER> they all call them IGOR haha :0 They are very editable however due to the date of expiration they are outdated for sale.

Seeing these cakes and other food items made me sad since some childs family who can't afford a cake would enjoy these cakes which only IGOR now enjoys.

Just remember banks are used for more than just money.. There are also blood banks.

Sharing is caring..

Love
Eve

12 Replies to “Banks not just for money”

  1. Hello, Eve,Thanks for writing about this aspect. Over the years I have seen brief news items on the large amounts of ‘getting stale’ or ‘past sell by date’ food (still consumable) that is thrown away. You are of course talking about the USA, but it is reasonable to assume that, on a smaller scale, other countries in the ‘western world’, including my own country (UK), are doing the same thing. But let me focus on the USA and what you are saying and let me ask a couple of questions:In your experience, do all retail outlets ever consider reducing the price of such food(s,) to entice customers to purchase same? Is ‘throwing away’ always an ‘automatic’ action, or is it used as a ‘last resort’?Is there some ‘stigma’, in the minds of some folk, attached to buying or receiving such food? I suppose that the poor and needy would gladly accept whatever is offered.Thank you also for describing ‘food banks’. In a society that is not widely known for ‘socialised medicine’ or ‘socialised’ other things -though they may already be built into the infrastructure- I am heartened to read about ‘food banks’, but on the other hand it is a sad endictment that they exist because of the basic problem, hunger and deprivation.Best wishes,lokutus

  2. HI Lokutus,thank you for asking about this problem. Yes ! the stores do reduce the items a bit, it would make sense for them to really lower the price inorder to sell it and NOT throw it out.What happens is if the item doesn’t sell and if the expiration date passes they either donate it or throw it out.I haven’t been in this line of work now for 4 years so I really don’t know now if they are donating or still feeding Igor.Does your country have a Second Harvest program or something similar?It’s nice to know these things just for learning more about our neighbors and loved friends.hugs,Eve

  3. Hi, Eve,I think they do, but nothing on the scale you mention -the Salvation Army plays its part of course. I’ll ask around.hugs,~lokutus

  5. We also have the Salvation Army in South Africa. I remember that they used to be in Zimbabwe too. I guess they might be everywhere.Only a few of our stores make plans for the redistribution of food as opposed to just throwing it away. One such company is Woolworths (which is the equivalent of Marks & Spencers in the UK) – they would donate whatever was passed its “Sell By” date to some of the homeless shelters – I know this was done in Cape Town but I am not sure if it is done in other cities. I always thought it was an excellent charity drive and I see no reason why other food stores don’t follow suit.Regards,JCL.

  6. Hi Eve, Hi JCL,Eve, Yes -of course we have the Salvation Army here, after all it was ‘invented’ here when General Booth ‘formed’ it back in the 19th century -but perhaps I infer your response erroneously? Perhaps you are surprised that there is still a need for the Salvation Army in my country? I’m afraid the need is still in evidence.Regards,lokutus

  7. HI JCL and Lokutus,No I was surprised that they are universal I never heard of them outside the US that’a all.JCL we had Woolworths however, they sold out to someother company but I forgot what one . It’s nice to know you have them. we use to shop there when I was a kid it was a nice store for the money.thanks for sharing JCL I didn’t know all this about your country or the UK.Hugs,Eve

  9. Hullo Eve,Here in Munich we have the “Münchener Tafel”. They collect food that wasn’t used in the restaurants and deliver it to poor people. As there are first class restaurants among the participants the meals sometimes are rather delicious. :)Best wishesElmar

  10. HI Elmar,It’s nice to know other countries do this too it’s very important to offer what’s not eaten why waste it.Thank you for sharing this with me I didn’t know about it until you .I got the ticket today 😀 its for tonights drawing ..good luck to us bothEve

  12. HI Elmar,The drawing is Tues.. for 41 million,, I player our numbers and the powerball of 9 as you suggested,now just pray with me we win :DJust think.. traveling with no worries AHHHHHHH What a way to liveI hope your day has been a good one too.Eve

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