Between April and September this year, food parcels given out to people in crisis through The Trussell Trust network saw a rise of 23% against the same period in 2018. This is the biggest increase the charity has witnessed for the past five years.
Property industry charity Agents Giving is continuing its support of The Trussell Trust as well as the hundreds of independent foodbanks and centers and are asking the industry to support and help combat poverty this winter.
In the last five years’ foodbank use in The Trussell Trust network has increased by 73%. 1.6m foodbank parcels were given in the last year ending March 2019. More than half a million of these went to children.
Here are some of the ways you can take action against poverty and hunger this winter.
Not just food –they need volunteers
Foodbanks are in urgent need of people to volunteer to collect food donations, help sorting and packing the food or making the tea and having a friendly chat.
Fundraising and Donations
Organizing a fundraising challenge and donating the proceeds to your local foodbank to help towards the many other costs they incur to support their clients.
What food do they need?
Each food bank will have a list available on their webpage of items they are in desperate need of, so please check before you start collecting.
As a general rule the items the foodbanks require are:
• Tinned – tomatoes, soup, rice pudding, vegetables, fish
• Jars – Jam, pasta sauces
• Dried/Packets – pasta, biscuits, cereal, snack bars, sponge puddings
• Beverages – UHT milk full fat, tea, coffee
• Other – toothpaste, soap, shower gel, washing up liquid
Christmas Goody Boxes – an extra treat this Christmas time
The Dorking Trussell Trust Foodbank in Surrey and many others will be putting together some nice Christmas treat items in goody boxes for their clients and the elderly this year. Treats could consist of nice/luxury chocolates, biscuits, sweets, jams/spreads, chutneys and also mini Christmas puddings. Treats to make people feel special.
Simon Bradbury, Managing Director Thomas Morris Sales and Lettings Comments; “Winter is an especially important time for donating food to foodbanks. People can often feel particularly low when the weather’s cold and if they know they can receive food donations, it can not only lift their spirits a little but even allow them to spend their limited cash resources on heating and other essentials”.
The needs of a foodbank change in the Winter. Just as the dietary preferences alter for those of us who are fortunate enough not to need foodbanks, so do the needs of those that use them. Most foodbanks are able to specify their particular food needs, and it’s always advisable to check with them first to see what their most pressing need are. Particular food requirements are normally indicated on the foodbank’s website.”
We hope you will consider donating or volunteering for your local community foodbank. Please share with us your donation photos and let’s help those in need this winter.
Find your local foodbank and see what items they require & share with us which foodbank you are supporting and any collection photos.
https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/
