Food for thought; LETTERS.

ARE we really supposed to be impressed by the fact that social workers recommend people to get groceries from food banks? We all know how gullible some of them can be.

I was once present at the home of a single mother with several children. A social worker arrived with gifts, some of them foodstuffs.

This mum not only chainsmoked through the day, but she also drank and spent a large amount each day on drugs. She fed her children on sweets and crisps when she could have spent an hour in the kitchen making them more substantial meals at a much cheaper cost.

Some of the gifts given to her for the children were never given to them. She gave them to friends.

It was near Christmas so it meant she didn't have to buy any presents for friends herself.

I have no desire to see today's mums suffer hardship just because we had to but I think a lot of today's hardship is due to bad management.

There are exceptions, of course.

Today's pensioners have to manage and do it very well because they have had plenty of training.

We weren't hindered by being told it was sexist to spend time in the kitchen or that earning a bit of money cleaning was beneath us.

BARBARA DUNN, Moseley