There are over 1,200 food bank centres in the network. The services provided by food banks may vary from area to area as they react to the needs of their community to provide help and support to local people in crisis. Within Newcastle Staffs Food bank; we have 6 food bank centres that are run solely by volunteers in handing out 3 days’ worth of emergency food.
Food donations:
Non-perishable in-date food is donated by the public at a range of places; such as supermarket collection points, schools, churches and businesses. It is then weighed, dated and stored within the warehouse, before it is transported to the food bank centres, where it is sorted into emergency food parcels by our dedicated team of volunteers; and then given to people in need who present a voucher.
Food vouchers:
When needing a food bank parcel: our food bank has a database of referral agencies who have agreed to work in partnership with us.
They may be care professionals such as health visitors, schools or social workers. They identify people in crisis and issue them with a food bank voucher. (A list of some of these referral agencies are on our website)
If you are looking to become one of our agency referrals in order to hold vouchers; please contact: [email protected]
More than food:
We recognise that ending hunger is about more than food. Our food banks provide compassionate, practical support to people in crisis to help better address the underlying causes of poverty. By offering a listening ear, and providing a safe place to talk; we offer signposting resources to relevant expert support, who can then recommend advice in resolving issues that help to explore the root cause of why they find themselves in the crisis.
Trussell Trust: “As a nation, we don’t expect anyone to be left hungry or destitute. Illness, disability, family breakdown or the loss of a job can happen to any one of us”