Bedford Foodbank

Bedford Foodbank Volunteers

Bedford Foodbank is part of the Trussel Trust Network of Foodbanks, there are 450 foodbanks who are part of the network, and all are independent charities within the network.

Everything we give out has been donated by members of the public, be it donating non-perishable food items ofinancial donation enabling us to purchase food and cover our overheads. We receive food and financial donations from a wide variety of people and organsations including Scouts & Guides, Knit and Natter Groups, running teams, corporate days, churches, schools and Coffee Mornings. Some people give weekly, monthly or annually all are very much needed and appreciated gifts. We have a small paid staff team and operate primarily with help and skill of our amazing volunteers. We have 120 active volunteers who make the foodbank happen each week.

Bedford Foodbank will help anyone living in the Borough of Bedford who is experiencing a crisis or they find themselves in circumstances where they are unable to provide food for their household. Many people who find themselves at the FoodBank are embarassed and ashamed they cannot provide the essentials for their families. With the rising cost of fuel and food Bedford Foodbank are seeing more and more people who are in a negative budget after paying for their rent or mortgage and fuel bills leaving them with nothing or very little for food and other essentials.

Bedford Foodbank started in September 2011, in our first year of operating we fed 1449 people which is less than we now feed in a month. On average we feed 1800 people per month and give our 20 Tonnes of food a month. This year already Bedford Foobank has experienced a 38% increase on last year.

The CAB, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Shelter, Fuel Foundation and the Trussel Trust are predicting an even higher demand for our service next year because of the Cost-of-Living Crisis Please remember each one of those 10,031 people we have fed this year already represents someone's Mum, Dad, brother, sister, son or daughter representing a household, a family who are skipping meals and going hungry

We are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Bedford Castle for thier continued support volunteering weekly at our Warehouse, helping us date and sort food.