We know that crisis can strike anyone and we also understand how difficult it can be to walk through a food bank door. That’s why our volunteers welcome everyone who comes to the food bank with compassion, kindness and a listening ear.

The volunteers will take your voucher details and then ask you about any special dietary requirements.  We want to make sure that we give you the right food to meet your needs, so please do let our volunteers know if you have any special dietary requirements or allergies, for example, gluten free, halal, vegan or vegetarian.

Whilst your food parcel is being prepared, a volunteer will offer you a hot drink and a biscuit. They will also be available if you would like to have a chat.  The volunteer can help you pack your food parcel into bags. If possible, please bring your own bags.

In our food banks, you may also find a member of the Money Advice Service, who can offer financial support such as a benefits check, or other services offering support and advice. 

We work with local support services because we want to provide you with the most appropriate help for your situation. If the support service feels you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a food voucher, which you can bring to the food bank. So, if you require a food voucher, you should contact the support service that you deal with.

Our food banks work with charities, the NHS, the City of Edinburgh Council, Housing Associations, Student Support and many other services. If you aren’t already working with a support service and need help finding appropriate support, please visit the City of Edinburgh’s cost of living webpage or contact our Money Advice Service.

Our emergency food parcels provide three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. The amount of food you get will depend on how many people the food parcel is for.  

The content may vary but a typical food parcel can include: 

• Breakfast cereal
• UHT milk
• Long life fruit juice
• Soup
• Pasta
• Rice
• Pasta sauce
• Tinned beans and spaghetti
• Tinned meat and fish
• Tinned vegetables
• Tinned tomatoes
• Tea or coffee
• Sugar
• Biscuits

We can also provide things like pet food and essentials like toiletries and period products when we have them. The food will be packed into supermarket carrier bags. Please bring your own bags if possible. 

To help the food bank prepare for your visit please tell the person issuing your food voucher about any dietary requirements you may have, e.g. gluten free, halal, vegan or vegetarian. You can also speak to the volunteers when you visit the food bank and they should be able to offer you food to meet your requirements. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to deliver food parcels.

However, if you are unable to visit the food bank, someone from the organisation who referred you may be able to collect the parcel on your behalf (they must provide ID).

As well as providing food and essentials like pet food and toiletries, our food banks sometimes have experts on hand to offer help and advice. 

Our Money Advice Service team are available at some food bank sessions to help with things like benefits, debt and budgeting. Things they can help with include: 

• Doing a benefit check to make sure you are getting the right benefits.
• Filling out benefit applications on your behalf.
• Applying for grants on your behalf.
• Telling you about other agencies for other types of specialist support.
• Helping you to open a bank account.
• Giving you debt advice and support.
• Issuing food vouchers.

As well as our Money Advice Service team, many other support services run drop-in sessions at our food banks. These can be on things like housing, welfare rights, energy bills and employment. These services are for anyone, you do not need a food voucher, you do not need an appointment and you don’t have to disclose any personal details. To find out more, check our Facebook or Instagram, to see our monthly drop-in services calendar.

There are additional services available across Edinburgh that provide low cost or free food items, hot meals, and hot drinks. We have developed a list of where and when these services are available here.