A new app 'BanktheFood' can connect you to your local food bank and ping you a list of urgently needed items - it can also show you the location of local donation stations.
The free charity-run app, run solely by volunteers, has been launched as the cost of living crisis causes food banks across the country to struggle to keep up with demand.
The app will send a push notification listing the most needed items every time the food bank runs low on essentials. It will even send a list of what’s urgently needed on arrival at the local supermarket, enabling shoppers to pick up a few extra items and donate at the local donation station.
And it’s not just food that’s sought after. Many food banks also need pet food, toiletries and personal hygiene products; some will look to collect Christmas crackers and small toys as gifts for children over the festive period.
If food banks have fridges, they may also collect and redistribute fresh food. And as BanktheFood shares what your local food bank is after in real time, it reduces the need for expensive storage.
Emma Spring, CEO of BanktheFood, explains:
“Christmas is often a tough time for people, and food banks will be a lifeline for many. If we can encourage people to use the free BanktheFood app, we can help community food banks get what they need when they need it and ensure nobody goes without. It makes a huge difference.”
Jamie Ginns CEO Greenwich food bank, explains:
“BanktheFood has been brilliant. It helps us tell our supporters exactly what we need. As we respond to the cost of living crisis, donations targeted at what we most urgently need are vital for us to continue to do what we do. BanktheFood users can record their donation on the app so that we can collect it immediately if needed. This means that we can continue to offer balanced food parcels. The number of people reliant on food banks has really increased; this app helps make sure everyone is looked after.”
Things your local food bank might need:
- Cereal
- Soup
- Rice
- Pasta Sauce
- Tinned meat, fish, fruit and veg
- Tea/coffee
- Tinned fruit
- Biscuits
- Toiletries
- Hygiene products
Check the BanktheFood app to find exactly what your local food bank needs.
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