Can you support our food bank drive this Christmas?

In the UK, more than 14 million people are living in poverty – including 4.5 million children.

Please read on to find out why we, at x+why, are asking you to support our food bank drive this Christmas.

We believe strongly that the UK should be a country in which no one needs to use a food bank, and in which everyone should have the dignity of being able to afford to buy food, even during the cost of living crisis we're currently facing.

We're working in collaboration with our partners, B Corp Certified law firm Bates Wells, to raise awareness about how the cost of living crisis is affecting people with the fewest financial resources to weather the storm and share resources on how we can all support those in need.

Sadly, over the coming months, we expect to see further increases in the need for food banks’ support as the economic impacts of the challenges we've all been facing in the past few years, including the pandemic, continue to be felt. Difficult though this festive period will no doubt be, we can draw hope and encouragement from what is only possible to achieve together.

Our team, members and partners at x+why will continue to show compassion whilst also seeking to shape a more just society, in which everyone has the dignity of being able to buy their own food.

Where do donations dropped off at x+why go?

We're collecting in each of our sites for local food banks which are run by the Trussell Trust. They support more than 1,200 food bank centres in the UK to provide a minimum of three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food to people who have been referred in crisis, as well as support to help people resolve the crises they face. Over 90% of the food distributed by food banks in the Trussell Trust network is donated by the public – without your goodwill, their food banks would really struggle to operate.

People's Mission Hall - Bethnal Green

Tinned Fruit
Tinned Vegetables
Tinned Pulses
Tinned Fish
Soup (Meat Or Veg)
Baked Beans
Pot Noodles
Cereal Bars
Biscuits
Custard
Jam Or Peanut Butter
Tea Or Coffee
UHT Milk Or Long-life
Fruit Juice
Pasta Or Rice
Pet Food
Female Sanitary
Products
Nappies (Sizes 3-6)

The Fulwood - Covent Garden food bank

Pasta
Rice
Noodles
Tins
Fruit And Vegetables
Frozen Food
Pet Food
Cleaning Products
Hygiene Products
Sanitiser
Shampoo & Conditioner
PPE Masks And Gloves

Chiswick Works - Acton food bank

Rice
Tinned Fish & Meat
UHT Milk (Whole Or Semi-skimmed)
Dried Milk & Non-dairy Milk
Long Life Fruit Juice & Squash
Instant Drinking Chocolate
Peanut Butter
Tinned Fruit & Vegetables
Chickpeas & Kidney Beans
Ready Made Custard & Rice Pudding
Ketchup & Mayonnaise
Savoury Biscuits & Crackers
Hair Shampoo & Shower Gel

Foundry + 103 Colmore Row - Birmingham Central Foodbank

Tinned/packet Soup
Pasta Sauce
UHT Milk
Squash
Tinned Fruit
Baked Beans
Tinned Vegetables
Crisps
Tinned Meat/fish
Tinned Meat Alternatives
Rice
Biscuits
Rice Pudding/custard
Tinned Spagetti
Chocolates/sweets
Toiletries For Adults And Children

A reminder that donations made to any x+why need to be dropped off before the end of the day on the 16th of December so we can organise the collections, thank you.

How do food banks work?

Non-perishable food is donated by the public at a range of places, such as schools, churches, and businesses, as well as supermarket collection points. It is then sorted into emergency food parcels by volunteers, to be given to people in crisis.

How can I support x+why's food bank drive?

1. If you're not a member at x+why or aren't going to be visiting any of our sites in December then you can donate directly to your local food bank – find your nearest one here. You can also make donations at collection points in supermarkets across the country or host a collection at your school, church or business for your local food bank

2. You can share information here about why donating to food banks is so important and how to go about doing it with your network online and talk to your community in person about it, too

3. If you're a member of x+why, you can make a donation to your local site, between the dates of 1st December to 16th of December - please check out the lists above to see where your donation will end up and what the specific food bank you'll be donating to is looking for, thank you so much

Can I make a donation to an x+why building if I don't have a membership?

We're really sorry but we're unable to accept donations from non members but rest assured, there will be somewhere close to where you live and work that can accept your donation - find your nearest collection point here.

Are there other ways I can help?

As well as donating food, there are plenty of opportunities for you to make a positive difference during this festive period and beyond by volunteering your time or taking on a fundraising challenge. Find out more here.

We thank you wholeheartedly for your support and welcome you to share this blog widely. You can also use our resource pack here to further highlight the importance of donating to food banks this Christmas and ongoing if you can.

Thank you to the brilliant team at Bates Wells for their efforts in bringing this message to the forefront of their communications and ours during these extremely difficult times.

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