My Day At The Food Bank

By Mr. A

I had been in the Jobcentre for most of the day, trying to get them to overturn the decision not to pay me Job Seekers Allowance (JSA), as they thought I was not looking for a job hard enough, and had not filled my jobsearch diary good enough.

So I sat for half an hour with the manager of the jobcentre, who said, "Sorry, it's a no, it's up to the decision makers in Birkenhead."

I said, "How long will that take?"

He replied, "A week to ten working days."

What the hell am I supposed to do during that time? I was not entitled to a crisis loan (even though it was the worst crisis I had been in for some time).

"Sorry, all I can offer you now is a 'bit' for the food bank. Fucking great, I thought, I had to go cap in hand to a place I had helped out during my voluntary work phase.

I walked a mile or so to the food bank. They gave me a big food parcel and I was really thankful. The only problem lay in all the food (except for a pack of bickies, cereal and long life milk) needed to be cooked ie. heated, boiled or at least microwaved. What I am going to do with all this food that needs cooking?

I have no gas or lecky, and no money to buy any, and I have used up all my emergency credit. I can't phone anyone because I have no credit and anyway, my phone needs charging. I shed tears of shame and frustration at this point.

With all the good intentions in the world the guy at the food bank said to me, "Have you thought Of going to a church?". "Why, I asked, what the fuck are they going to do, give me some candles to heat some water for the noodles." Sorry for swearing, but I was shocked at his question.

"No, I have got no church to go to and right now I am not in God's good books."

So What did i do?The only thing I know how to, shoplift (badly), and next thing I was in the back of a police van on my way to the plod shop.

God bless the folks in all the food banks and sorry for being a pain. God bless you all.

Printer friendly page

Sorry Comments Closed