A Guide To Supporting Your Local Food Bank

As the cost of living continues to rise across the UK, food banks provide essential support for those struggling to afford food. This guide will help you understand how to effectively support your local food bank through donations, volunteering and raising awareness.

The importance of food banks:

Food banks provide emergency food supplies to individuals and families facing financial hardship in the UK. There are currently over 1,300 food bank centres offering support, with many seeing record demand in recent years.

According to The Trussell Trust, 3.1 million emergency food parcels were distributed by their food banks in 2023-2024. This has increased by 94% over the last five years, and more than 1.1 million of these parcels were distributed to children.

Each of these food banks relies heavily on community donations and volunteer support to meet this growing need. Here at Give as you Live, we offer alternative ways you can support your chosen food banks by raising free donations via your online shopping, direct donations or Fundraising Pages.

What your food bank needs most:

Every food bank has a list of needed items to create their food parcels. While specific needs may vary between locations, these items are typically most requested:

Non-perishable food items:

Tinned foods (vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, soup)
Pasta, rice and grains
Breakfast cereals
UHT or powdered milk
Tea and coffee
Biscuits and snacks
Baby food and formula

Essential non-food items:

Toiletries (toothpaste, soap, shampoo)
Household cleaning products
Feminine hygiene products
Nappies and baby wipes
Toilet paper

To stay up to date with what your food bank needs the most, you can download the BankTheFood app and follow your local food bank for real-time updates of which items they need.

How to find and support your local food bank:

Locating and supporting your local food bank can be done in many ways:

Find your nearest centre: Use The Trussell Trust's food bank finder or search "local food bank near me" to identify locations in your area.
Supermarket collection points: Many major supermarkets like Sainsbury's, Tesco and ASDA have collection points where you can donate items to food banks while you shop.
Direct donations: Most food banks accept donations directly at their premises during operating hours.
Community collection points: Churches, community centres and schools often act as collection points for food banks, especially during special drives.
Fundraise for them: You can make a direct donation or set up a Fundraising Page for your local food bank through Give as you Live Donate.

Volunteering at food banks:

Food banks rely on volunteers to operate effectively. Donating your time can be just as valuable as food donations. Volunteer opportunities typically include:

Sorting and organising donations
Assisting with food parcel preparation
Helping with distribution
Administrative support
Driving and delivery services
Fundraising activities

Most food banks also offer flexible volunteering schedules to accommodate various availability. Contact your local food bank directly to learn about their specific volunteer needs and application process.

How businesses can support food banks:

Organisations and businesses can make a significant impact by supporting a food bank through:

Organising workplace food collection drives
Sponsoring food bank programs or events
Offering matched giving for employee donations
Providing volunteer time off for employees
Creating long-term partnerships with local food banks

You can also set up a corporate fundraiser to support your chosen food bank via Give as you Live Corporate here.

How to start supporting your local food bank:

Supporting your local food bank doesn't mean you have to volunteer every week or donate items every day. Even small, regular donations can help provide vital services for people around the UK!

Here are three ways to start:

Find your nearest food bank centre through The Trussell Trust website or independent food bank directories
Check their specific needs and donation guidelines
Start with whatever level of support you can provide - whether that's volunteering weekly or raising free donations from your online shopping via Give as you Live Online.

Supporting your local food bank is a great way to help those in need within your community. Whether you donate food or raise free donations from your online shopping, your contributions play a vital role in providing essential support to families in need.

What is Give as you Live?

Since 2010, Give as you Live has helped raise over £37 million for UK charities through online shopping, Fundraising Pages, direct donations and more. Get started now and turn your everyday actions into free donations.

Offers, donation rates and participating stores are correct at the time of writing and are subject to change. Please visit the Give as you Live Online website for the most up to date information.