How to donate to a food bank and where to find one near me

FOOD banks throughout Britain offer free emergency essentials to people who are struggling to make ends meet.

In the UK, more than 14 million people are living in poverty – including 4.5 million children.

More than 1.2 million food parcels were given out by Trussel Trust food banks between April 1 and September 30 this year.

With redundancies on the rise and the economy in recession, these vital services have never been as critical for struggling families.

Here's where to find your nearest food bank, how to volunteer and which foods you can give as donations:

How do I find a food bank near me?

One of the easiest ways to find a local food bank is through the - a network representing over 1,200 food banks throughout the country.

The trust provides families in crisis with a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced food, either with vouchers or an emergency parcel.

To find the nearest Trussel Trust food bank near you, use their .

The Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) is another group of food aid providers, including food banks.

You can check for the closest in its network using

also allows you to search online to find a local option.

How can I donate to a local food bank

There are two main ways to donate to food banks, either by providing food or money.

If you'd prefer to offer cash, you can make a one-off donation or set up a direct debit.

All the major charities including the Trussel Trust and IFAN allow you to make donations via their websites, or you can donate directly to your local bank.

If you want to give food, you can drop it off at , at a donation point in supermarkets across the country or by hosting a collection at your school, church or workplace.

If you're donating food then you should focus on nutritional items with a long shelf life.

See the box above for a list of typical goods in an emergency food parcel.

Essential non-food items like toiletries and hygiene products are also needed.

The Trussel Trust also advises checking with your local food bank to see what supplies they currently need most.

Bankuet allows the food banks it represents to request items they need, it then using your donations to buy these items.

This means it can make sure that money is used in the best way to help each individual bank.

also allows its bank members to flag the items they need most. This means that donators can make sure they buy the right things.

How can I volunteer at a food bank?

You should contact if you want to volunteer in any capacity.

They are always in need of willing volunteers, no matter how much time you have to give.

Again, you can find your nearest through the Trussel Trust, IFAN or Bankuet.

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