Are Food Banks The Answer
Food banks hand out emergency parcels to meet an immediate need: the thousands of people across the country who would not have anything to eat that day otherwise.
But many volunteers and charity workers agree: food poverty cant be separated from poverty, and food handouts are not the answer to the UKs poverty problem. They want the government to strengthen the benefits system and improve low pay across the country to make sure people can afford food in the first place.
Sabine Goodwin, coordinator for IFAN, told The Big Issue: The buck cannot stop at the doors of food banks.
She added ministers must reinstate the £20 per week to universal credit and working tax credits. The cut, amounting to a £1,040 annual loss for claimants, is pushing 500,000 people into poverty, anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation said.
IFAN is working with dozens of local authorities to implement a cash-first approach to ending demand for food aid, signposting people struggling to afford food to sources of financial support.
This means distributing leaflets to guests as well as campaigning for jobs to pay the real living wage, and for food poverty to be tackled through increased incomes on a national scale.
Emma Revie, the chief executive of the Trussell Trust, has urged the government to ensure there is a broad package of support for people on the lowest incomes by uprating benefits in line with inflation and closing the gap between price rises and incomes this winter.
How Your Money Is Used
Giving to AzFBN is effective!
Because we work with economies of scale your financial gifts to AzFBN go a long way. Because we deal with semi tractor-trailer loads of food, a little goes a long way! Of course your donations support hunger fighting programs, too, as we work toward a vision of a hunger free Arizona.
Is It Better To Give Food Or Money
Donations are a lifeline for us, so absolutely, if you can donate at your local supermarket or to your local food bank, or put in place a doorstep collection point, its always great, says Emma Revie from the Trussell Trust. She added that “tinned meat, fish and vegetables and UHT milk are always gratefully received.
If you want to give food, you can drop it off at your local food bank or at a donation point in supermarkets across the country. The Trussel Trust advises checking with your local food bank before donating to see what supplies they currently need.
Recommended Reading: What Foods To Avoid Before Donating Plasma
How To Get Help If You’re Struggling To Make Ends Meet
Here’s a list of resources that can help you if you are struggling
- Organise a food parcel – by ringing Citizens Advice in the UK or Advice NI in Ireland .
- Get advice – both Citizens Advice and Advice NI can also offer wide help around navigating benefits and grants.
- Check what you are entitled to – Use the Turn2Us benefits calculator to see what you are eligible for and how much you can get.
- Look for grants – The Trussel Trust allows you to search for grants just by using your postcode.
- Manage debts – If you’re struggling with debts, contact a charity such as StepChange or the National Debtline for help.
To find the nearest Trussel Trust food bank near you, use their online search tool.
The Independent Food Aid Network is another group of food aid providers, including food banks.
You can check for the closest in its network using this interactive map.
Bankuet also allows you to search online to find a local option.
What Do Food Banks Need At Christmas
Festive treats are appreciated as food donations at food banks during the Christmas holidays particularly Christmas pudding, as it often comes with a long-life use by date. The Trussell Trust recommends non-alcoholic puddings.
Chocolate coins and Christmas dinner non-perishables such as tinned pies, vegetables, condiments, and gravy are all appreciated this time of year. Festive treats for those who can’t afford them at this time of year are welcome.
Related features:
Read Also: Where To Donate Open Dog Food
Where To Donate Food
Food donations can be dropped off to our warehouse at 67 Wright Avenue in Dartmouth weekdays from 8:00am – 4:00pm. Most grocery retailers also have donation bins located in their stores where you can drop off smaller donations of non-perishable foods. In the Halifax area, many of these bins are collected by Feed Nova Scotia. In other communities, these donation bins are often collected by one of our local member food banks. If you have a large food donation that you’re unable to deliver, please give us a call at 902-457-1900 so we can discuss whether a pick-up can be arranged with one of our trucks.
If you prefer to donate food directly to one of our member agencies in your community, use the map below to find their contact information.
What To Donate To A Food Bank
While food banks always provide a minimum of three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable tinned and dried foods, what you should donate to a food bank differs depending on where you are – and what food bank you’re donating to.
Typically food banks are looking for donations of food products from supermarkets, such as:
Lots of food banks will also offer essential non-food items , such as toiletries and hygiene products.
However, because the supplies to food banks differ between areas, its important to check with your local food bank what kind of supplies theyre most in need of at the moment. An easy way to do this is to use the search box at the bottom of this page , underneath Items to donate. It will tell you the products and food items that your local food bank is in need of at the moment.
If you are in the position to donate to a local food bank, now is the time to do so, with more people needing their services every day.
Read Also: Central New Jersey Food Bank
Where To Donate Canned Foods
If youve got extra food crowding your pantry, you might be looking for a way to offload it to a worthy cause.
Whether youre moving house, doing some spring cleaning, or looking for a way to help end food insecurity in your community, youve likely turned to Google to find the best canned food donation centers near me or something like that.
In your search, you might have discovered that many food banks and donation centers have phased out the idea of donating canned food in favor of accepting cash. To avoid wasting more of your valuable time, check out this list of the top places to donate canned food in your area.
Use Social Media To Fight Hunger
You can also support food banks at the click of a button. Follow your local food bank on social media. Like their posts, comment and share them, suggestions Jeff. Hunger is often misunderstood, so the more we share information about hunger and the more we engage other people, the better. And thats something we can all do.
One more suggestion: research what resources are available and share that information with your local network. Because of the hidden nature of hunger, you might not know if a friend or neighbor is struggling with food insecurity. And, due to the pandemic, a lot of people are dealing with food insecurity for the first time and dont know where to go for help. Sharing out resources in a supportive, non-judgmental way can make a world of difference.
Recommended Reading: Utah Food Bank Mobile Pantry Schedule
Donate Your Time To A Food Bank: Educate & Advocate
Did you know you can provide essential support to your local food banks and food pantries without ever leaving your house?
It starts with educating yourself on the issue, then using your knowledge to raise awareness within your community, engage local companies and even coordinate outreach to lawmakers and other leaders to encourage them to support policies and funding for food banks and other meal programs.
“Awareness is a great big need, especially in America, commented Scott. Because the idea of hunger existing in a wealthy country like the United States just doesnt make sense to a lot of people, and on the surface it may not seem to exist, but it is a reality.”
In fact, according to Feeding America, more than 35 million people in the U.S. struggled with hunger in 2019 and that number may increase to 50 million in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.
Regardless of where you live, hunger is a problem, Scott stated. Its prevalent in all parts of the country, urban and rural. One of the big challenges of hunger is that its a well-hidden problem. Its not obvious a lot of times. People with food insecurity often go out of their way to conceal the problem.”
In fact, in parts of the state served by Feeding Missouri, there are areas with food insecurity rates of 30% or more that means roughly a third of the population is dealing with food insecurity. Even some farmers struggle with food insecurity.
Where Can I Donate To Ukraine Clothes Charity Crisis Appeals And More
From cash and clothing donations to signing petitions and emailing your MP – as the conflict continues in the East, many want to know how they can help and donate to Ukraine.
Russia invading Ukraine has brought about devastating consequences for the country and it’s civilians. And as the conflict continues to escalate, the Ukranian people require help and support more than ever. Whilst many of us are not elected representatives of NATO or politicians in a position to directly enforce Russian sanctions – we are able to lend a hand collectively. This can be done by signing up to house a Ukrainian refugee , supporting charities and relief efforts, donating everyday essentials and putting pressure on officials to act fast.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, over 10 million Ukrainians have fled their country since war broke out. With a further 6.48 million people displaced in Ukraine as a result of the invasion. We’ve listed important organisations that are working to provide aid to these refugees, in addition to soldiers, orphaned children and nationals still living in Ukraine.
Don’t Miss: Second Harvest Food Bank Of Central Florida Orlando Fl
Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Banks can be found all over the nation. Although each Food Bank is its own entity, they all work together to serve those that are food insecure and aim to develop struggling communities. They collect millions of pounds of food each year, taking donations from grocery stores to limit their waste stream, from farmers if they have excess produce, and from individuals in food drives. The food banks often provide health management classes and help find pediatric care when needed.
How to donate food to Second Harvest Food Bank:
To find out if there is a Second Harvest Food Bank near you, conduct a Google Search with your area or state name and type in Second Harvest Food Bank. This will aid you in finding the address of the nearest one as well as their individual requirements for dropping off food donations.
How Do Food Banks Work
Food banks normally work with support from the public, who donate non-perishable food at a range of places such as schools , churches and local businesses, as well as supermarket collection points . Then volunteers sort the produce into emergency food parcels to give to people in need. A large majority of food banks also provide extra services …
Also Check: What To Donate To Food Drives
How To Donate To A Food Bank
With the pandemic and the cost of living crisis, food banks are being relied upon more than ever before. If you’re wondering how to help, here’s everything you need to know about food bank donations.
Food banks work with support from the public, who donate non-perishable food at a range of places such as schools, churches, and local businesses, as well as supermarket collection points. Then volunteers sort the produce into emergency food parcels to give to people in need. A large majority of food banks also provide extra services alongside the emergency food parcels, such as toiletries, sanitary products, and baby basics.
According to recent stats published by The Trussel Trust , 95% of people referred to food banks in early 2020 were unable to afford to eat or stay warm and dry. As well as 18% of households referred to food banks were single parents – more than twice the rate in the general population. Trussel Trust added “We know that extremely low income is a key factor driving people to food banks.” Therefore donating to a food bank is needed now more than ever.
Do Food Banks Need Toiletries
When it comes to non-food items you can donate to a food bank, this can include deodorant, toilet paper, shower gel, shaving gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, tooth paste, hand wipes, sanitary towels and tampons.
Many also accept household items such as laundry powder or liquids and washing up liquid, as well as baby supplies like nappies, baby wipes and baby food.
It is worth remembering that luxury items many of us take for granted are out of the question for people struggling to put food on the table. Stick to the lists put together by food banks to ensure you are helping combat hunger, but some services have bonus tables where treats are given out especially in the run-up to Christmas if you decide to donate something special alongside the essentials.
Don’t Miss: San Diego Food Bank Volunteer
Central Beds Ukraine Appeal Bedfordshire
Spearheaded by Katarzyna Southin and Emily Roberts. People in central Bedfordshire villages have been donating much needed items to Ukrainian refugees thanks to their Central Beds Ukraine Appeal. However though physical donations ended on April 1, they’re still making trips with supplies and are now seeking financial donations via their GoFundMe page to help the effort.
“We have teamed up with local cadets at Krakow Central Station to provide food, snacks and drinks to families passing through from przemysl Station before we head to the orphanages and support them for the next few days,” Emily explained on the page.
“We are hiring a minibus and will buy all the essentials from local supermarkets. The more money we receive, the more we can buy for those in need so every penny is vital! Please continue donating to our GoFundMe page and we will ensure all your money is spent in the best possible way.”
Can I Donate Toiletries To Food Bank
You can donate toiletries to most food banks but it’s worth checking on the local food bank website beforehand. The Trussell Trust recommends the following:
You can also donate household items, feminine hygiene products, and baby supplies too:
- Household items laundry liquid detergent, laundry powder, washing up liquid
- Feminine products sanitary towels and tampons
- Baby supplies nappies, baby wipes, and baby food
- Face masks and hand sanitiser
You May Like: Food Banks In Louisville Ky
How Do I Donate To A Local Food Bank
The donation process will vary from food bank to food bank. To find your local food bank, Villarreal advises visiting FeedingAmerica.org and entering your zip code into the food bank locator. From there, she recommends connecting with that local food bank. Typically, theyâll have a most-needed list of items of things you can donate.
Financial donations are also welcome at most food banks as are volunteers. âVolunteerism is a huge need at all food banks,â Guerra says. âAnd the donation of the dollar goes a long way also. In fact, with the increase of fuel, most food banks need the dollar more than ever to keep food flowing into and across their local service region.â
Other local meal programs such as Meals on Wheels also rely on volunteers to deliver and prepare meals. âFor many recipients, the trusted Meals on Wheels volunteer who shows up every day with a meal and a smile is the only person they see or speak with all day,â says Jenny Young, the vice president of communications for Meals on Wheels America.
And if youâre not in a position to donate food, money, or time, Davis says helping spread the word about available resources for families in need is one of the easiest ways to support. âNo Kid Hungry has a texting line to help,â she says. âFamilies can text âFOODâ or âCOMIDAâ to 304-304 to find community meal sites for their kids.â
Food Banks Feed Millions
We checked in with Scott Baker, the state director of Feeding Missouri, and Jeff Ambroz, grants and research manager at Second Harvest Heartland, for their tips and insights on how you can best support local food banks and food pantries.
Feeding Missouri works with a statewide network that includes the states six food banks, which in turn serve over 1,500 food pantries, community feeding organizations and emergency food assistance programs. Each year, Feeding Missouri helps these groups distribute over 120 million pounds of food. The organization also works to raise awareness, funding and resources for combatting food insecurity. Scott has been working with Feeding Missouri for over 11 years.
Second Harvest Heartland is a food bank that serves 59 counties in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Its distribution center supplies over 1,000 different program sites, such as food pantries, meal programs and after-school programs. In a single year, they distribute enough food for 97 million meals! As part of their mission to end hunger, Second Harvest Heartland also works to help sustain the environment. Jeff has been with the organization for over seven years.
Both Feeding Missouri and Second Harvest Heartland are part of Feeding America, a national network of food banks and nonprofit organizations all working together to end hunger in America. The Feeding America network provides over 4.3 billion meals annually, reaching over 40 million people in need.
Recommended Reading: Pet Food Donations For Rescues