HOW FOODBANKS WORK
Our foodbank services are provided on a referral-only basis for those who are in financial crisis and have no other way of accessing food.
1- FOOD IS DONATED
People will check our appeals page to see what is most needed, then donate food via a collecting basket at their local supermarket or at special events at schools, workplaces or churches. The food is collected from the donation point by our transport volunteer team and brought to our warehouse.
2- FOOD IS SORTED AND STORED
At the warehouse the van is unloaded and then each item is individually checked by a volunteer to make sure that it is not expired and that the packaging is not damaged or open. Once it has been checked everything is sorted into categories and stored by expiry date.
As well as checking and sorting the food, our warehouse volunteers also make up our food parcels. Each parcel is made up using a pick list to ensure that each one is broadly the same and will give the recipients three balanced meals a day and some snacks.
The transport volunteers then transfer the completed food parcels to the foodbank centres for distribution.
3- PROFESSIONALS IDENTIFY PEOPLE IN NEED
We work with organisations that provide professional support to people in crisis. The organisations we work with include statutory services, like social workers and housing officers, NHS staff including health visitors and community mental health services, and charities who give advice and support on a range of issues, including things like welfare rights and employment. When a support agency has a client who needs our help they can refer them to their local foodbank using our e-referral system.
4. CLIENTS VISIT THE FOODBANK
Once a client has been referred to us they can visit the foodbank centre and show the volunteers their e-referral. The volunteers will make them welcome and offer them a hot drink and a biscuit. A volunteer checks if the client has any special dietary requirements and provides them with a parcel for themselves and their household. As well as food, we can provide the client with basic toiletries and household items, baby food, nappies and pet food. From time to time we will have extra items for the client to choose from – for example at Christmas we can usually provide advent calendars for the children in the family (and the young at heart!) as well as mince pies and other seasonal goodies.
The foodbank volunteers love to chat with our clients and will offer them information or referral to more than food services where appropriate.