How you can help Feed a Family This Christmas as festive campaign launches
The Express & Star has launched its Feed a Family appeal to ensure nobody goes hungry this Christmas.
We’re asking our generous band of readers to support charities working tirelessly to support those struggling to put food on the table.
Tens of thousands of emergency food and toiletry parcels have been handed out across the Midlands since last year’s appeal which is why we are once again asking for help.
Many food banks are supporting more people than ever this year after record numbers sought assistance during lockdown.
The effects of the pandemic continue to be felt with the end of both furlough and the Universal Credit uplift - and now rising energy bills are putting more people under additional financial strain.
The Black Country Food Bank has provided just over 600,000 meals for people in crisis so far this year.
The Well in Wolverhampton fed more than 11,000 people between April 2020 and March this year with demand showing no signs of slowing down.
Co-project leader Gary Price said: “We’re seeing demand staying as high as it was last year, it hasn’t dwindled at all.”
Cannock and District Food Bank has also seen a rise in people of accessing its services due to the pandemic.
The Express & Star would like to support the efforts of charities and many others by encouraging people, who can afford to do so, to donate food and toiletries.
What to donate
Any Christmas items need to have ‘best before’ dates beyond December.
Some food banks will not accept festive items after a certain date to ensure it can all be distributed in time for Christmas.
The food must not contain any alcohol (bear in mind for mince pies, Christmas cake, Christmas puddings and chocolates including selection boxes).
Cupboard essentials
Breakfast cereal (preferably non-sugared)
Milk (UHT or powder, preferably semi-skimmed)
Jam, marmalade
Fruit juice (long-life)
Small jars of coffee
Hot chocolate
Tinned meat (ham, corned beef, Spam)
Tinned ready meals (chilli, meatballs, stew)
Tinned vegetarian ready meals (curry, ratatouille, macaroni cheese)
Packets of mashed potato/tinned potatoes
Tinned vegetables
Tinned fish (tuna, mackerel, salmon & sardines)
Pasta
Rice
Pasta sauce/cooking sauces
Tinned fruit (in juice preferably)
Tinned rice pudding/custard
Healthy snacks (small boxes of raisins/apricots)
Biscuits, crackers, crispbreads
Toiletries
Deodorants
Shampoo
Shower Gel
Soap
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Sanitary towels
Where to donate
Black Country Foodbank
The Storehouse, Albion Street, Brierley Hill, DY5 3EE. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 2pm. Telephone: 01384 671250. Website: blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk. Deadline for Christmas food is December 3.
The Well
Unit 16, Wulfrun Trading Estate, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton WV10 6HH. Open Tuesday to Friday 8.30am to 1pm. Please call 01902 256523 before you deliver. Sainsbury’s in Wombourne, Perton and Wednesfield have donation points as well as Asda in Wolverhampton. Website: thewellwolverhampton.co.uk.
Good Shepherd Ministry, Wolverhampton
Food and toiletries can be donated at Sainsbury’s in Chapel Ash. If you have a large number of items to donate, call 01902 399955 to arrange delivery or collection. Website: gsmwolverhampton.org.uk.
Harvest Community Food Bank
New Testament Church of God, New Trust Centre, 1 Wolverhampton Road (on the corner of Woden Road & Wolverhampton Road), Heath Town, Wolverhampton, WV10 0PD Telephone: 01902 453190. Email: info@ntcgharvesttemple.org.uk. Website: ntcgharvesttemple.org.uk. Open Fridays between 3.30pm and 4.30pm. Referral is not necessary but proof of address is required.
Excel Church Food Bank
Wolverhampton Street, Bilston, WV14 0LT. 01902 402273. Open Monday to Wednesday, 9am to 5pm. excelchurch.org.uk/foodparcel.
Cannock and District Food Bank
Coniston Hall, Cecil Street, Chadsmoor, WS11 5HD. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm. Telephone: 01543 422394. Website: cannockdistrict.foodbank.org.uk.
Rugeley Food Bank
Rugeley Community Centre, Burnthill Lane, Rugeley, WS15 2HX. Open Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm. Tesco also have a collection point, as do most Rugeley churches. Telephone: 07528 447504. Website: rugeley.foodbank.org.uk.
Walsall North Food Bank
Pelsall Methodist Church, Chapel Street. Open Tuesdays, 11am to 1pm, and Fridays 1pm to 3pm. Telephone: 07582 869895. Website: walsallnorth.foodbank.org.uk.
Bloxwich and Blakenall Food Bank
Blakenall Village Centre, Thames Road, Blakenall, Walsall, WS3 1LZ. Open Thursdays 11am to 1pm. Telephone: 07747 301374. Website: bloxwichblakenall.foodbank.org.uk.
Great Barr Food Bank
St Bernard’s Church, Broome Avenue Great Barr B43 5AL. Open Fridays 12pm to 3pm. Telephone: 0121 3575399. Website: greatbarr.foodbank.org.uk.
Smethwick Food Bank
Holy Trinity Church, Church Hill Street, Smethwick, B67 7AH. Tuesdays and Fridays, 12pm to 2pm. Telephone: 0121 5170141. Website: smethwick.foodbank.org.uk.
Quinton and Oldbury Food Bank
St Boniface Church, Quinton Road West, Quinton, B32 2QD. Open Wednesdays, 11am to 1pm. Telephone: 07732 157619. Website: quintonoldbury.foodbank.org.uk.
Kidderminster Food Bank, based at the Swan Centre
Food can be donated at Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsburys in Kidderminster, Tesco and Co-op in Stourport. Website: kidderminster.foodbank.org.uk.
