There are a number of food banks in the capital. Below we’ve featured 10 food banks in Edinburgh, Scotland.
1. Edinburgh Food Project
The Edinburgh Food Project was formed in 2012 by volunteers who wanted to make a difference in the lives of those experiencing food poverty. With a referral from a professional agency, you can visit one of the seven locations they have scattered around Edinburgh to retrieve an emergency parcel of non-perishable foods. If you choose to do so, you can discuss the particulars that affect your food supply and get assistance overcoming obstacles to food security.
Anyone interested in donating or volunteering is encouraged to do so. Contact the main food bank warehouse with any questions.
2. Edinburgh Community Food
If you’re hungry in Edinburgh, you won’t have to look far for help. Edinburgh Community Food (ECF) networks with area community cafes to provide low-cost meals to those who can afford to pay something and free meals to those who can’t. Utilizing donations, community gardens and food reclamation, the volunteers at ECF prepare healthy meals for all who seek them. They also offer cooking classes which include meal kits that can be taken home by those who are selected to participate.
You can help by donating or visiting the café to pay a meal forward. Volunteers are also always welcome. Contact a staff member if you would like to know more.
3. Pennywell Pantry
In 2020, North Edinburgh Arts opened the Pennywell Pantry to offer nutritious food items and a sense of community to those in need. This food bank provides parcels filled with non-perishable food and includes as much fresh food as possible based on community donations and purchases. They are set up as a low-cost membership warehouse where food can be purchased four days per week for a fraction of what it would cost in regular shops.
Donations can be made on their website. You can also volunteer if you’d like. Contact the pantry to learn more about its operations.
4. Cyrenians FareShare
Cyrenians FareShare was created in 1968 by Edinburgh students who wanted to address homelessness in their area. Since then, they have worked diligently to reclaim food waste from area food producers and redirect it to the people who need it most. They offer deliveries to the vulnerable elders and veterans in their community and meals to the unsheltered. For those who can afford to pay, they operate a membership grocery where food can be purchased at a low cost.
Volunteers and donations are what keep this charity going. You can sign up online or reach out to someone for more information.
5. Community One Stop Shop
Since 2002, the volunteers who founded the Community One Stop Shop in Edinburgh have operated a food bank where those suffering from food insecurity can obtain an emergency supply of groceries without a professional referral. They also run a membership-based, low-cost pantry where shoppers can purchase food for a fraction of the price to stretch their budget further each month. Other services designed to improve food security are also available.
Volunteer opportunities can be found on their website. Donations are always welcome. If you have questions, contact someone at the organisation.
6. Granton Baptist Church Food Bank
Granton Baptist Church Food Bank in Edinburgh opened their food bank in 2012 with the ambition of helping the homeless and hungry in their community. Since then, they have seen hundreds of referrals come through their doors and leave with parcels of much-needed non-perishable food selected to get them through a few days until other measures could be put into place to help the underlying situation causing food poverty.
You can donate or volunteer to help with their mission or contact them to discover more about how they are making a difference in their community.
7. Fresh Start Pantry
The Fresh Start Pantry is dedicated to helping the homeless and impoverished in Edinburgh. In addition to food boxes given to the homeless who are struggling to re-establish themselves in a new home, this charity operates a low-cost member-only grocery store where shoppers can purchase healthy food items for a small yearly membership fee and another small fee each time they visit the pantry.
Volunteers and donations are much needed to keep this community outreach program going. Contact the pantry for more information.
8. Edinburgh City Mission
The Edinburgh City Mission partners with more than a half dozen Edinburgh churches to provide nutritious foods to the members of their community who might not otherwise have access to proper nutrition. They endeavour to offer foods that can be eaten anywhere without heating or special storage requirements. They also provide hot meals in several locations for those who want a more traditional meal.
The donations received and the time volunteered are the backbone of this organisation. Any additional information can be located on their website or by getting in contact.
9. Wester Hailes Food Bank
Holy Trinity Church in Edinburgh established the Wester Hailes Food Bank more than a decade ago to serve those struggling to maintain a healthy diet due to financial hardships. The food bank is open to all without any referral required. They also operate the Bridge Café, where community members can purchase an affordable meal or pay a meal forward for someone else. Soup and fruit are always available for free to those without funds.
More information about this outreach can be found by contacting the church. Those who want to donate or volunteer can do so on the website.
10. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army’s mission of helping the poor and the homeless is more than a century and a half old and still going strong. When the members of their Edinburgh community come to them for help, they are there to provide a box of groceries or to welcome them into their soup kitchen for a hot meal. The support they provide doesn’t stop there. Aid filling out forms for further assistance or guidance on finding financial stability is also available.
This charity is always in need of your donations and volunteer hours. Get in contact for anything else you need to know.
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