It IS different, in that you have to pay to access them (thus creating another barrier for the most vulnerable). My concern is that they're intercepting some of the food that would be destined to food banks that are already struggling hugely for donations.
My other half works with the food team in the Public Health dept at Bham Council and she said there's more to it than that and is gonna explain how these work later.
OK, so, my newly acquired, but very basic understanding of them is that they've been around since covid and go by a few different names; food pantry, social supermarket, community food hub etc.
They often run alongside food banks, or have replaced them if the demand is there.
The idea is that it improves people's access to affordable and low cost food. One of the biggest barriers people face in accessing food via food banks is the stigma attached to the perception of receiving handouts. A lot of pride getting in the way. A food pantry removes this barrier whilst still giving people the help they need.
Again, as with food banks, they are not something to be celebrated or tying in with some kind of book promotion
My initial concerns about them diverting food away from food banks are seemingly unfounded as they are quite often only used in areas where food bank usage isnt prolific or has been replaced by a pantry.
There are a lot more serious and pressing concerns surrounding food banks. The Trussell Trust has been running for decades and never before have they struggled for donations at the scale they are now (many factors here - demand is at an all time high, people think covid is over and no longer need to donate, people have less and less disposable income and can't afford to spare food to donate, other uses for food waste are stopping near date food being sent to food banks etc....).
Its a dire situation, so if you can, please keep donating....
