In this post, we’ve selected and featured 10 top food banks in the West Midlands. Continue reading to learn about them and their activities.
1. Salma Food Bank
In Smethwick, the Salma Food Bank was opened in 2016 in memory of a West Midlands resident, Salma Parveen, known for helping and feeding any person in need. Any person from the West Midlands or West London can contact the food bank and receive a prepackaged emergency food bag consisting of coffee, tea, non-perishable tinned items (such as beans and rice pudding) and dried goods (such as rice and pasta).
You can support the Salma Food Bank by donating in-date non-perishable items or supermarket gift cards; they do not accept monetary donations of any kind. You could also support by volunteering to distribute leaflets, sort food donations, or deliver emergency food to those in dire need living in the Birmingham area. Contact the Salma Food Bank if you have any other questions or need more information.
2. West Brom Food Bank
The West Bromwich Community Church in West Bromwich opened the West Brom Food Bank in 2007 to meet the rising instances of food insecurity in the area. Local agencies provide needy individuals and families with vouchers to redeem at the West Brom Food Bank for three days’ worth of emergency food. They even offer toiletries, baby supplies, and pet supplies, where needed.
As a completely charitable organisation, West Brom Food Bank relies on the donations and support of the local community. To find out how you can donate food, money, volunteer your time, or any other information, contact the food bank organiser by email.
3. Breaking Bread Food Bank
Opened in 2012 as a joint effort of the churches in Wednesbury, the Breaking Bread Food Bank provides three days’ worth of emergency food to any person in the Sandwell area who seeks support. Also operating on a voucher system, social service agencies in the area issue food bank vouchers to those in need and these vouchers can be redeemed for food bags containing long-life milk, tinned foods, rice, pasta, and other popular non-perishable items.
If you’d like to donate food or volunteer your time to support the Breaking Bread food bank, contact them using their online form at the bottom of their website. You can also find out how to receive a voucher or make a referral.
4. Aston and Nechells Foodbank
Since 2011, the Aston and Nechells Foodbank has been a much-needed resource for those suffering from the effects of financial crisis and living in the Aston, Nechells, or Washwood Heath areas of Birmingham. Visitors to the food bank receive a prepackaged food bag containing three days’ worth of non-perishable items, such as cereals, tea, tinned foods, and biscuits. They also cater to different dietary requirements, such as halal, gluten-free, or vegetarian.
To ensure every person in the area has access to the food bank, Aston and Nechells Foodbank operates out of three different locations: St. Matthews Church in Nechells on Mondays; Elim Church in Ward End on Wednesdays; and the Salvation Army in Aston on Fridays. All three locations are run entirely by volunteers; with the rising cost of living, even more volunteers are needed to meet demand. They also need more food donations to feed more individuals and families visiting the food bank. If you’d rather donate money, you can do so following the guidelines found here, or contact them for more information.
5. Sparkhill Foodbank
Begun by the Narthex Sparkhill charity in 2016, Sparkhill Foodbank serves the Sparkhill, Balsall Heath, Hall Green, and Stechford areas of Birmingham. As a member of the Trussell Trust, all food parcels contain three days’ worth of non-perishable items such as tinned foods, dried breads, tea, coffee, and biscuits. Those in need of an emergency food parcel must obtain a voucher from one of the food bank’s partner services.
As a registered charity, the Sparkhill Foodbank runs off donations and volunteers from the local community. Food can be donated at any of the supermarkets in the food bank’s service areas. Money can be donated via Gift Aid or as a one-off payment. Volunteers can apply to help here. For any other information or questions, contact the food bank directly.
6. B30 Foodbank
Opened in 2013 by the B30 Churches network, the B30 Foodbank distributes from the Cotteridge Friends Meeting House in the Cotteridge area of Birmingham. They provide food parcels containing three days’ worth of non-perishable items to any person or family visiting their distribution centre with a food voucher from one of their partner social service agencies.
They accept food donations at their food warehouse located in Norton Business Park, and they accept monetary donations online or via bank transfer. Find out how to become volunteer at this page. Contact the food bank if you have any other questions or need more information.
7. Clifton Road Food Bank
The Clifton Road Food Bank opened in 2017 in the Highgate area of Birmingham and serves those in need in the West Midlands every Wednesday morning. Unlike many of the other food banks in the West Midlands, visitors are provided with bread, milk, and eggs but can then choose what to add to the parcel to eat for at least three days. Visitors can choose from tinned items, tea and coffee, fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy, and dried goods to help create nutritious meals.
You can donate money to the food bank via PayPal or apply to be a volunteer. To find out how to donate food or for any other information, contact the food bank by email or visit them in person.
8. The Lifehouse Food Bank
Based in the Selly Oak area of Birmingham, the Lifehouse Food Bank offers food parcels containing at least three days’ worth of food to help alleviate food insecurity. Food parcels contain non-perishable items such as tinned foods, dried goods, and even toiletries when available. Unlike many of the other food banks in the area, those in need can self-refer to themselves rather use a voucher from social services.
You can support the Lifehouse Food Bank through monetary donations made through the donation box located here or by contacting them for a bank transfer. You should also contact them if you want to find out how to donate food or volunteer.
9. Ladywood Food Bank
The Ladywood Food Bank was created in 2011 to meet the rising instances of poverty and hungry children in the Ladywood constituency. Any person seeking help or emergency food can receive a food parcel containing tinned food, packets, long-life milk, healthy snacks, and other non-perishable foods.
As an independent food bank, the Ladywood Food Bank relies on support and donations from the local community, such as non-perishable foods or funds to pay the running costs. Volunteers are also in high demand to help sort, pack, and distribute food parcels. To find out how to become a volunteer or donate food, or for any other questions, contact the food bank online or by phone.
10. Good Shepherd
Little Brothers of the Good Shepherd created the Good Shepherd in 2003 in Wolverhampton to help those sleeping rough or struggling with food insecurity in Wolverhampton. They offer a range of food services, such as a hot meal service for rough sleepers, and a food parcel distribution service and community food pantry. With the food parcel distribution service, those in need can obtain a prepacked food parcel containing pantry staples, tea, coffee, and long-life milk. With the community food pantry, visitors can ‘shop’ at no charge for those food items they need to make meals or stretch the groceries they already have.
Volunteers are always needed at the Good Shepherd to help cook, sort food, stock shelves, and distribute food to visitors. You can also donate money to help keep the centre running. To find out how to donate food or for more information, contact them by email.
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