In 2022, the Trussell Trust saw a 37% increase in the number of emergency food parcels distributed compared to 2021. With the number of people in need always rising, here are some top tips for how you can donate to Neath Foodbank – your help is always very gratefully received.
Bring food donations in to us
You can drop off your donations to us – we’re based at Orchard Place Baptist Church, and we’re open every Tuesday and Friday between 2 and 4pm.
Or donate via Tesco and Lidl
You don’t need to visit us to make a donation, there’s a much easier way. Tesco Neath Abbey Road, Lidl Cadoxton Road and Lidl Briton Ferry Road all have drop-off points which you can use, the contents of which are then collected by us. Find out more about these drop off points here.
What to donate – some general tips
ALL donations are very gratefully received, but here are some particularly helpful items for us:
- Multipacks of individually-wrapped items. Since we distribute hundreds of parcels each week, multi-packs make it easy to build up multiple parcels.
- Items that don’t need to be cooked. Last year’s rising energy prices mean a lot of people are requesting items that don’t require an oven, for example, things that can be prepared with just a kettle.
- Items that already include herbs and spices.People accessing foodbanks might have limited seasonings to hand in order to make a flavoursome meal, so foods that come with those things already are a great idea, for instance, tinned tomatoes that include garlic or herbs.
- Items that can turn pasta/rice into a full meal. Pasta and rice tend to be donated frequently, so it’s helpful to donate complementary items (for example, pasta sauce, tinned vegetables) that can turn them into a meal.
Here’s what to avoid
While all kinds of donations are gratefully received, there are a few things you should avoid giving:
- Items past expiry date. All food distributed by foodbanks must be within the expiry (or ‘use by’) date on the label. Anything past that date will have to be disposed of.
- Items no longer in original packaging or without the shop’s own labelling.If you’ve decanted the food into another container or removed the labels, it can’t be accepted.
- Anything you wouldn’t eat yourself. Please do not donate anything that you or a loved one wouldn’t want to eat.
Remember: it’s not just about food
Here are some non-food items that are generally needed:
- Toiletries:deodorant, toilet paper, shower gel, shaving gel, shampoo, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand wipes
- Household items:laundry liquid detergent, laundry powder, washing up liquid
- Feminine products: sanitary towels, tampons
- Baby supplies: nappies, baby wipes and baby food
- Dog food
Want to volunteer?
If you’d like to volunteer your time with us or fundraise for us, get in touch! Find out more about volunteering here.
You can donate cash instead
Cash is always gratefully received. Trussell Trust reports: “Foodbanks are currently buying more food at a time when prices are higher than ever – the sharp increase in people needing help is outstripping food donations. Cash donations are just as useful as food donations and they offer flexibility, allowing foodbanks to purchase the items that they need most.”
