Now Even Mumbles Needs A Food Bank

[The Masked Tulip]

Now even Mumbles needs a food bank

http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Mumbles-needs-food-bank/story-18595054-detail/story.html#ixzz2POVoMYI1

HARD-UP people in one of Swansea's most affluent areas have been given emergency packages from a local food bank.

Mumbles, where average house prices are not far off £250,000 and rental accommodation does not come cheap, has had a food bank based in the village since October last year.

[Gone baby gone]

Mumbles, where average house prices are not far off £250,000 and rental accommodation does not come cheap, has had a food bank based in the village since October last year.

Cause and effect?

[Si1]

probably a great networking opportunity for ex community co-ordinators...

[The Masked Tulip]

I suspect this is indicative of the silly house prices in Swansea West and that, perhaps, a lot of people in need of the food banks are people who have bought 'in to the Mumbles dream' (delusion) in the last 5 or 6 years.

It only needs mortgage or heating costs or council tax to rise slightly - or even food prices - and that 250K mortgage becomes a burden. But lots of people there did not pay 250K in the past 5 or 6 years. They paid much, much more.

[RufflesTheGuineaPig]

Don't worry everyone, we can inflate away the debt

[19 year mortgage 8itch]

Middle classes can spot a bargain and a perceived personal need as much as the next man...if not more.

Clearest reason I am not middle class then.

[The Masked Tulip]

I suspect the demand for such services is indicative of what happens when you give away something for free.

Middle classes can spot a bargain and a perceived personal need as much as the next man...if not more.

I think You have a valid point there.

[plummet expert]

I think You have a valid point there.

I like to give to the food bank in sussex. They are quite picky who they help! Still, we are nowhere near the USA problem where 1 in 4 kids and 1 in 8 adults have to use food stamps.

[erat_forte]

I like to give to the food bank in sussex. They are quite picky who they help! Still, we are nowhere near the USA problem where 1 in 4 kids and 1 in 8 adults have to use food stamps.

Aren't food stamps in the USA the equivalent of benefits here? I would be suprised if it is significantly less than 1 in 4 kids & 1 in 8 adults on benefits.

[RufflesTheGuineaPig]

Aren't food stamps in the USA the equivalent of benefits here? I would be suprised if it is significantly less than 1 in 4 kids & 1 in 8 adults on benefits.

3 words.

Child.

Tax.

Credits.

[Ah-so]

Is this a fractional reserve food bank?

[The Masked Tulip]

Is this a fractional reserve food bank?

In Mumbles it probably is.

[Gone baby gone]

Aren't food stamps in the USA the equivalent of benefits here? I would be suprised if it is significantly less than 1 in 4 kids & 1 in 8 adults on benefits.

They do have cash benefits in the USA as well, but not to the same level as we do.

[The Masked Tulip]

Looks like an effort to red arrow all the pro-HPC comments below that article.

[pl1]

I suspect the demand for such services is indicative of what happens when you give away something for free.

Middle classes can spot a bargain and a perceived personal need as much as the next man...if not more.

A good point. The Child Benefit effect in full effect?

[lid]

Nah Mumbles just needs a drive through

[Mrs Bear]

I suspect the demand for such services is indicative of what happens when you give away something for free.

Middle classes can spot a bargain and a perceived personal need as much as the next man...if not more.

You can't just go along with a sob story, surely? I thought people had to be referred, though I guess that could be a humiliating exercise.

Friend of mine once sorted out a load of children's clothes to give to an org. that doled them out to those in need. She parked nearby - there was a load of stuff in the car - found the place and told the woman she'd come about clothes for the needy. The woman was seriously snotty, looking down her nose, and asked where her letter was. 'You can't come without a letter!'

Wires crossed, of course. Friend said, 'I know I was looking a right mess, but if that's what the old b*tch is like with people who genuinely need help, then I hope to God I'm never in that position.'

This was in Ireland, BTW.

[Byron]

I think that was disgustingly callous. I'm sure they help many very needy people. I'm just suspicious when something grows from nothing to a sizable operation in 7 years.

As I said, amongst all the reasons that such an organisation should never exist in our country and is guilty of treating symptoms not causes and in doing so helps the underlying problem to be alleviated taking away the pressure for fundamental change. However, the well meaning people who directly help others via charities like this, their hearts are in the right places.

But in Mumbles, the only change needed is for these silly people to sell their houses at a sensible price and get on with their lives.

[tc9604]

Food banks have become quite the fashionable thing to have in one's town don't you know. Shows we're all in it together...

[billybong]

It's a shame they can't find another name for them other than food banks.

Banks have little or nothing to do with them even though they were/are one of the main causes of the financial crisis creating the need.

http://

www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/banksandfinance/8253523/Bob-Diamond-Time-for-banker-remorse-is-over.html

Edited April 4, 2013 by billybong

[Venger]

It's a shame they can't find another name for them other than food banks.

Good point.

Maybe Angel Rangel (Swansea Premiership footballer player) can help out the property-rich people of Mumbles next year.

Rangel tweeted 'Anyone knows the location of homeless people in Swansea? I got food going spare!' and then set off on his journey with his other half.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2264769/Angel-Rangel-drives-round-food-homeless.html

Many of the hungry could be home-owners refusing to sell or downsize for 'less than its worth' in Mumbles, Rangel. Won't you think of them starving away in their high-value homes.

[Snugglybear]

It's only in Mumbles because someone there provides a location for distributing food, specifically the Red Cafe, a project of Linden Church Trust.

http://www.redcafe.org.uk/

It won't be middle class Mumblers (is that the name for them?) using it - these are the criteria for getting help:

"Frontline care professionals identify people in need

Care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, CAB and police identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher."

http://swansea.foodbank.org.uk/

[thirdwave]

Meanwhile, Swansea has finally joined the rest of the country in reaping the benefits of unmitigated immigration, which is currently generating much needed employment locally by keeping the coppers busy. The latter paid me a visit this evening, after two 'suspicious individuals' were allegedly spotted on the street, to warn about a group of Roma burglars who are reportedly active in the area. From what I gather, all residents are being advised by the police to keep doors and windows locked at all times as a result.

[Venger]

This Mumbles foodbank still going?

I suspect the demand for such services is indicative of what happens when you give away something for free.

Middle classes can spot a bargain and a perceived personal need as much as the next man...if not more.

[The Masked Tulip]

Yes.