Do you need a handy list of food banks in West Yorkshire? Take a look at the following selection.
1. Leeds South and East Food Bank
In late 2013, local churches and community members worked together to start the Leeds South and East Food Bank in Leeds. The volunteers who operate this charity depend on referrals from area agencies to determine who might need their services. Those who contact them are given an appointment to visit where a staff member will discuss any nutritional requirements or preferences before a package of suitable non-perishable food is provided.
Donations to this food bank are appreciated, as are volunteers. You can contact someone directly to learn more about how you might be of assistance.
2. Helping Aid
As the gravity of the pandemic came into focus in early 2020, members of the Leeds community decided to act against the looming hardships they knew would go with it. They established Helping Aid, which includes a food bank dedicated to helping prevent food poverty in the area. Food bank doors are open two days per week to distribute carrier bags filled with the groceries families need to fill their tables.
As the pandemic wains, people continue to struggle. Helping Aid is still there for them. If you can donate or volunteer, it will be appreciated. Contact information can be found online.
3. Bradford North Food Bank
The Bradford North Food Bank opened in the winter of 2010 at the Light Church in Bradford. Since then, volunteers have worked with The Trussell Trust to fulfill the agency referrals they are sent with compassion. After an initial interview with staff, recipients are given a three-day emergency supply of food to see them through while they wait for other assistance they can be provided to be received.
You can donate online. If you prefer to get more involved, you can volunteer. If you need to know more, you can contact the food bank if you’d like to learn more.
4. Horton Bank Top Community Food Bank
The pandemic has been brutal on many families, and the volunteers who recognized the mounting food insecurity in Bradford answered a call to do something about it in 2020. They created the Horton Bank Top Community Food Bank to distribute non-perishable food to anyone needing supplemental groceries. They open their doors by appointment to provide carrier bags to drive up or walk up recipients.
You can help the cause with a donation or by volunteering your time. If you’d like to discover more, you can contact a staff member.
5. The Welcome Centre
Since Huddersfield community members founded the Welcome Centre in 1997, the need for food banks has risen from thousands of beneficiaries per year to more than a million. As the current economic crisis rages on, that number may continue to grow for years to come. As one of the largest food banks in England, this organisation is well suited to the challenge. They provide non-perishable food via referrals and can deliver when necessary.
They are always appreciative of donations and volunteers. You can request more information by contacting someone at the charity.
6. The Branch Community Food Share
The Branch Community Food Share at Jubilee Centre in Huddersfield has been helping the community around them since Dr Michael Schluter founded them in 1983. They operate as a low-pay grocery hub, charging a small fee for entry to the centre where you can shop for the food items you prefer at no additional cost. The food bank uses the fees paid by recipients and donations to purchase overstock food in bulk directly from the manufacturers.
Anyone wanting to donate to this worthwhile charity or volunteer their time can do so on the website. Feel free to contact someone with any questions.
7. Batley Food Bank
Are you in Batley and looking for help with food insecurity? Visit the Batley Food Bank for assistance. This food bank works on a referral basis, providing up to 7 days’ worth of non-perishable items to those who need some relief from trying to make ends meet. They are open five days a week to distribute pre-packaged parcels to all who seek their help and can provide smaller amounts to those who need emergency assistance until they can secure a referral.
If you can afford to give, donations are always welcome. You can also volunteer. Please get in contact to learn more about what they have to offer.
8. CTC The Gathering Place
Christians Together Calderdale (CTC) operates The Gathering Place, a food bank they founded to help those facing food poverty in Halifax. In addition to a food bank that passes out parcels of non-perishable items once a week to all in need, they provide community meals open to the public three days per week. In the winter, they also function as a warming center with food and snacks available to those who need to get in from the cold.
Get in contact with any questions you have about their programs. You can also donate or volunteer to help.
9. Fusion Food Bank
If you are having trouble keeping food on your table in Dewsbury, you can call or visit Fusion Food Bank. Founded by community minded businesses in 2010, this organisation has been a source of hope for many experiencing food poverty. They work on a referral basis to provide non-perishable food to thousands each year. Self-referrals are accepted in emergency situations where an agency referral can’t be quickly obtained.
You can donate or volunteer to help prevent hunger. Contact information is included on their webpage if you need to speak with someone directly.
10. Dewsbury South Community Support
Spurred by the pandemic, the volunteers who founded Dewsbury South Community Support have been instrumental in helping the members of Dewsbury combat food insecurity in their homes. In addition to aiding with financial concerns, they offer a food pantry where recipients can receive pre-selected parcels of non-perishable groceries meant to stretch their food budget further each month.
If you don’t need help with food but want to participate in the efforts to fight hunger, you can donate or volunteer by getting in touch with someone at the organisation.
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