Food banks
Obviously, providing food banks is a good way to help those who have ended up left behind by the system, and at least makes sure that no-one starves. They may be cold and homeless, but at least they have some food.
But, as usual, I'm in two minds about the approach of having collection bins at supermarkets. Obviously they work, and they let donors feel they have done something specific and 'good', but they are horribly inefficient. @AC gives discounted and branded items, but if people gave money to the same value, then the food bank could buy cases of goods wholesale from the cash and carry, and get even better value.
The same goes for people giving food and clothes etc to be driven across Europe in a battered van to help refugees. Cash to an organisation who can source things in bulk, locally, is much more cost-effective and also helps support a local economy rather than Tesco's shareholders.
And how about people how spend hundreds of quid on a plane fare so they can spend a few weeks in Rwanda (or wherever) helping to build a school. I think the locals are probably quite good at building - but the cost of the plane fare would buy a lot of materials to help them get started. I'm not saying that someone with specialist skills shouldn't fly so that they can transfer those skills, but rich kids doing a bit of cement mixing and painting makes me a bit ambivalent. Yes, the experience hopefully does them good and makes them more conscious of other people and their lives, but is it cost effective?
Biting the hand that feeds IT
