This Christmas, foodbanks across the North East will be working tirelessly to help as many families across the region facing challenging times, as demand for services continues to rise. ChronicleLive has compiled a round up of both the essential and often forgotten about items that local foodbanks are in urgent need of this winter:
Newcastle Foodbank, based at the The Food Bank Centre, Benwell Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6NG, is in need of: cupboard-stored or ‘ambient’ items which include tinned fruit, coffee, rice pudding, juice, soup, cereal, instant mash and custard.
They are also in need of any toiletries including sanitary products and baby milk formula, as well as Christmas treats such as mince pies and carrier bags which are essential for people to take parcels away.
Last week, Hairy Biker Si King and The Bishop of Newcastle, The Right Revd Dr Helen-Ann Hartley launched Newcastle Foodbank’s Christmas 2024 appeal – which comes after the charity reported the busiest 12-month period in their 11 year history. 25,500 food parcels were distributed between 2023 – 2024.
For more information on Newcastle foodbank locations across the city, visit the website here.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
County Durham and Sunderland Foodbank, based at The Coop Centre, Whitehouse Road, Sunderland, SR2 8AH, is in need of: tinned meat and veg. everyday essential toiletries and household items like shampoo, conditioner and kitchen roll, and decent quality carrier bags. For more information on County Durham and Sunderland foodbank locations across the region, visit the website here.
Gateshead Foodbank, based at The Davidson Building, Gateshead Hwy, NE8 1BG, is in need of: tinned veg, tinned meat and tinned fruit, toiletries, pet food, nappies, as well as Christmas sweet treat items.
Lesleyann Watson, Project Manager at Gateshead Foodbank told ChronicleLive: “We give out nappies and pet food which people often forget about. We see lots of people do without just so they are able to feed their pets.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
“At the minute a lot of people are really struggling especially with the cold weather. It used to be ‘eat of heat’ but that’s not the case anymore – people haven’t even got the decision to make.” The foodbank is also in need of carrier bags, which Lesleyann adds costs the foodbank hundreds of pounds a week.
The Blyth foodbank, based at One Seaforth Street, Blyth, Northumberland, NE24 1AY, is in need of: any kind of toiletries including shampoo, conditioner and shower gel, tinned ambient foods, pasta, cereal and long life products including UHT milk.
They are also in need of laundry powder, carrier bags and bags for life, as well as Christmas sweet treats including mince pies, desserts, sweets and selection boxes.
The Bay foodbank, based at Meadow Well Way, Waterville Rd, North Shields NE29 6BA, is in need of: essential items including rice, pasta, custard, tinned fruit, veg and meat and decent quality carrier bags. They are also in desperate need of Christmas food items like stuffing, gravy granules and biscuits which will be added to all emergency parcels.
(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
Maggie Walker, Chair of Trustees at The Bay Foodbank, told ChronicleLive: “Anything is gratefully received and it would be lovely to give people Christmas items at this time of year as well as basic food like pasta sauce and tinned fruit.”
Kenton Foodbank, based at 177 Kirkwood Dr, Kenton, Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 3BE, is in need of: pasta sauce, UHT milk, soup, chopped tomatoes, vegetables and tinned veg. They are also in need of sweets, selection boxes and biscuits and any toiletries including shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-donations-north-east-foodbanks-30521779
