If you’re searching for a list of food banks in Hertfordshire, we’ve featured 10 below for your convenience.
1. Watford Food Bank
When community volunteers in Watford founded the Watford Food Bank, they had no idea how much food poverty would rise during the pandemic and beyond. Still, they have stayed the course, helping those in their area who need help meeting nutritional requirements. They are open five days per week to distribute non-perishable foods that last at least three days. This supplemental food prevents many in their community from going hungry unnecessarily.
Donations help keeps this food bank in operation. You can also volunteer to lend a hand. Contact them directly for any questions about what you can do to help.
2. The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has catered to the needs of the homeless for more than a century. Their drop-in centres offer a place where those with nowhere to go can find a hot meal and enjoy a bit of conversation in Watford. They also have a mobile unit that serves coffee to those out on the streets who can’t make it into their shelter and offers non-cooked meals and snacks to take on the go.
Don’t need food but want to help? You can visit their website to donate or volunteer. Just get in touch for any other questions.
3. DENS Food Bank
In 1998, local churches in the Hemel Hempstead area banded together to tackle the homeless situation in their community by taking turns opening up as a winter warming shelter that offered a hot meal. By 2003, they had set up DENS which continues to supply a day centre, a night drop-in shelter and a meal. They also maintain a food bank designed to offer short-term food aid to those experiencing a fiscal crisis.
Donations can be made online. If you prefer to volunteer some time instead, you can do that on the website or contact a staff member for more information.
4. Stevenage Vineyards Foodshed
The Stevenage Vineyards Church was established in 1998 in the St. Albans Vineyards area of Stevenage. In their outreaches to the local community, they found that many of the people they met were either experiencing food poverty or had done so at some point in their past. They created the foodshed to supply emergency food assistance. Those who visit this charitable organisation will be given a minimum three-day supply of non-perishable food.
Anyone can donate or volunteer to join the cause. Contact info can be found on their website if you’d prefer to talk to someone about what you can contribute.
5. Haven First
If you find yourself in Stevenage with no idea where you will get your next meal, Haven First can help you. Established in 1990 by Chris Foster and the local housing board, this charity serves the needs of the homeless community, including those living in situations where they aren’t on the streets but have no permanent abode. Haven First offers shelter and hot meals in their soup kitchen to all who show a need for as long as needed.
Chances to volunteer and information about donating to their cause can be found online. For more information, you can reach out via the contact information online.
6. St. Albans Food Bank
Don’t do without proper nutrition in St. Albans. Instead, you can visit the St. Albans Food Bank, formed by volunteers in 2014, for an emergency allotment of tinned foods and dry packaged foods designed to get you through a few days while you make other arrangements or seek further help. With a referral from a local agency, the volunteers at this food bank can help put you on the path to food security.
You can volunteer to help, donate funds, or get in touch with someone to answer any questions you may have about their mission.
7. Broxbourne Food Bank
Since 2012, the Broxbourne Food Bank in Hoddesdon has worked with The Trussell Trust to see that the nutritional needs of their community are being met. With a referral from an area agency, recipients can visit the food bank to have their situation accessed by a volunteer. They will then receive an appropriate amount of groceries best suited to their family’s circumstances. Health conditions, preferences and family size are all taken into consideration.
You can donate or volunteer to join the fight against food poverty. Contact information is found at the bottom of their webpage.
8. Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank
Since its establishment by volunteers in 2013, the Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank has looked out for the less fortunate in their community. They work with The Trussell Trust, area businesses, churches, and individuals. This charity takes in donated food and funds to buy other items and redistributes them to families needing supplemental pantry items. Families can visit the food bank up to seven times every six months.
This food bank relies on donations and volunteers to fulfil its mission. Contact them if you have questions about what you can do to aid them or their operations.
9. Potter’s Bar Food Bank
In 2013, volunteers in Potter’s Bar started the Potter’s Bar Food Bank to help those in their area who were experiencing food insecurity. Nearly a decade later, they continue to provide for the poorest families in their community by providing emergency food parcels of non-perishables and helping in getting past whatever misfortune has led them to a situation where they cannot afford groceries. Families can visit up to 7 times in 6 months to receive assistance.
More information about their efforts can be obtained by contacting them. Those who want to donate or volunteer can do so on their webpage.
10. Hatfield Food Bank
The Hatfield Food Bank was started in 2017 by Hatfield area volunteers. Since then, they have done their part to battle food insecurity in their community by providing families with emergency food supplies lasting up to three days. In addition to food parcels, the staff at the food bank will also aid recipients with the circumstances that have left them in the situation leading to a food shortage in their homes.
You are invited to donate or volunteer on the website if you don’t require food assistance but would like to help. You can contact them for any other information you might need.
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