I do exactly this for a job. Some stores give lots of good stuff, some treat us like a garbage company.

Mine wants food but they want food on their list. Yes I have volunteered and donated to them. And yes I am aware that they are the exception not the norm.

The people I have helped with at food banks were not at risk of literal starving they were at risk of eating the same 3 things all the time. Most of us take it for granted having a mind that works like this. Go buy ingredients and follow a recipe, try new ones, some diversity in diet. Instead of just buying endless jars of peanutbutter and crackers.

My local one is working on more mealkit type solutions. Here is everything you need and a paper recipe.

Kinda makes me sad. More food stamp money is probably not going to fix that problem, not sure what can be done. Maybe social workers setting up basic cooking classes?

If you talk to people about homelessness, they will readily admit they just don't want to see it. If go to any cheaper grocery store you definitely are rubbing shoulders with people who use foodbanks. Food insecurity doesn't go away just because you have a roof over your head.

The rub is a foodbank in a grocery store will attract the more visible "unreliable access to showers" type of user, which would be unacceptable.

The thing is people don't realize who needs food banks. They may not be aware their kids best friend, their coworker, etc. may be in need.

I rub shoulders with Food Bank people all the time on my commute and they aren't the ones you worry about.

Putting my NIMBY hat on as well to add. There’s another component that if people realize they can get their groceries for free at their local store, why would they go to the side that asks you to pay? Obviously this would be a net positive as more people in need will have access, but there will be some not-in-need who will take advantage. Grocery stores tend to have thin margins, so this may make a formerly profitable store unprofitable, which may reduce quality or shutter stores.

I work in retail. Stuff already goes to food banks. The dates on those products are usually the sell by date, and quite arbitrary. They're mostly for quality sake, rather than "not safe to consume" sake. Like a loaf of bread may not be as moist and soft as it was when it was fresh, but it's perfectly fine to eat. Companies want you to be able to buy a product and expect consistent quality. But if you're hungry and in need, stale Oreos are better than no cookies at all.

I mean, to the last bullet, we have good Samaritan laws. We could totally pass a law that says "grocery stores can and should provide reasonably safe, leftover food to poor people and will not be punished if those reasonable actions result in bad things happening". You are allowed to just wail on an unconscious dudes chest for minutes until paramedics arrive and then not be sued for the three cracked ribs.

But cmon. We all know that grocery stores know that once people realize expired food is generally safe a) people will buy less food and b) people will show up to get free expired food and buy less food.

Scarcity is a necessity under capitalism. Movie theaters aren't going to release blooper reels for free. They add them to the credits or put them in the editors cut release. A luxury clothing brand isn't going to sell seconds, they will destroy or rework material that isn't sellable.

I agree. Necessities should be free.

I worked produce in a supermarket for a little while. Our expired food was sent out to be used as animal feed. Not as good as charity but still a fine use for expired food.

That's an extreme claim. Not believable.

In a perfect world maybe. We threw out a ton when I worked at 1 ~ 5 years ago.