The 2022 cost of living crisis in the UK is reaching a worrisome level. The consumer price index has seen a 10.1% increase in September this year as compared to the last year. In such inflation and Food insecurity, foodbanks are a ray of hope for many.

The purpose behind starting a foodbank is simple; to not let anyone go to bed on an empty stomach. Empathy and kindness are virtues the world must hold onto in such self-centred times. The foodbanks are the reason why many families get to eat.

In the UK, foodbanks can be found across the country, from large cities like London and Manchester to small rural areas such as Helston in Cornwall. In total there are more than 3600 food banks across the UK, providing meals to millions of people every month.

What are Foodbanks?

The Foodbanks are a non-profit organisation that distributes food and provides meals for people in need. The number of people relying on foodbanks is rising at an alarming rate. Many new foodbanks have been set up in response to the increasing demand amid the cost-of-living crisis in the UK.

The foodbank is a charity distributing food such as hot meals or canned food items that help low-income people get back on their feet. The food items are served to anyone who requests a meal without any judgement. The purpose behind this is to reduce hunger and poverty.

The dream to achieve the 2^nd SDG of Zero Hunger can be brought to life with efficient systems of foodbanks. A chain of organised and connected food platforms can help strategically get to zero hunger.

How do Foodbanks Work?

If you’ve lived in the same area for more than a few years, chances are you’re familiar with the local foodbanks. That’s because they have become increasingly popular in the United Kingdom and other developed countries around the world.

Foodbanks are non-profit organizations that provide emergency food assistance to people in need. They exist to help people who may have no other means of obtaining food, and also to educate them on how to better care for themselves and their families.

Foodbanks can be found all over the country, but most commonly in larger cities where the population is large enough to outweigh the resources provided by a local government or non-profit agency.

The main ways in which a food bank can help those who are hungry are:

· Distribution

They collect food and donations from government funds and private donors or businesses. Food is purchased from the donations and they provide food parcels to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford enough to feed themselves and their families. These parcels contain non-perishable items such as tinned foods or ready meals.

· Referrals

The referrers can refer any deserving person to a foodbank by providing all necessary information that foodbanks require to provide their service. The food parcels are then scheduled to be delivered to the given address after approval.

· Feeding centres

They have feeding centres where people can come together and get a meal in the company of others in a similar situation. This helps build community spirit and empathy between them.

· Signpost to other services

They offer advice on how to make the most of government benefits and other support services, such as housing or health care.

They also provide information about other local charities that may be able to help with particular problems, for example housing for homeless people or advice about applying for benefits online. In addition to this, mental health assistance is also offered to lead a better life.

Foodbanks Characteristics

A foodbank is a place where people can go and get emergency food. It was originally set up to allow people who couldn’t afford to eat to get some food. If anyone needs help with food, they’ll usually turn to a foodbank.

Here are some characteristics of foodbanks in the UK,

• Foodbanks offer food for anyone hungry without any discrimination.
• Commercial food systems and government offer substantial portion of food to foodbanks for donations.
• Mostly foodbanks are privately owned and operated.
• Foodbanks are born from alliances of community stakeholders.

Also Read: Foodbank UK Facts and Stats

Functions of a Foodbank

Foodbanks have more responsibility than ever and they are using different ways to get the work done. The functions of a food bank are:

1. Use the funds and government grants to feed the hungry.
2. To provide food for children and seniors on low incomes.
3. Feed people dealing with mental health issues, drug addiction, domestic abuse and homelessness.
4. To increase the availability of free food in relatively poorer neighborhoods.
5. To create jobs for people who need employment opportunities.
6. To collect and distribute surplus food to local people.

The main goal here is to end hunger for good and foodbanks are performing all the above-mentioned functions to finally meet this goal.

Why are Foodbanks Important?

Food banks are a great way to help the poor. Food banks can be found in many communities throughout the country as there is a clear rise in foodbanks due to food insecurity. This way, even if someone is returning home at night after a long shift, they can still avail a free meal.

Such organisations are mostly run by volunteers who care deeply about their local community. They offer free food to anyone who needs it on a first come, first served basis.

What Type of Food is Offered at Foodbanks?

The local food bank distributes an average of one million pounds of food per day throughout the United Kingdom. This can include canned goods such as

• Vegetables or fruit
• Canned meats
• Instant mashed potatoes
• Dry cereal
• Peanut butter
• Crackers
• Canned soup
• Pasta sauce
• Soups made from scratch

This way the donations from individuals and local businesses are put to a good use and distributed among people looking for a meal.

Foods for special needs

There are some people with special needs who must be catered with more than just a simple meal. That is why foodbanks also cater other nutritional needs. Any type of allergy is also considered before offering food to the charity beneficiary.

• Baby formula if needed due to breast-feeding difficulties or premature birth.
• Nutritional supplements such as Ensure or Pedialyte if someone has an illness or medical condition that prevents them from eating properly such as HIV/AIDS or diabetes.

Where do Foodbanks Get the Food From?

Foodbanks have been growing in the UK as they are now being used as a means of survival rather than just as an emergency relief service.

The UK has many elderly people who are living on very low incomes and some are forced into poverty as they cannot afford basic necessities such as food and heating during winter months. Foodbanks tend to use effective foodbank fundraising strategy to raise as many donations as possible to help such people.

Following are the sources of foodbanks to get the food for distribution among the community:

· Food donations are made

 The food businesses keep a certain portion of food for donations or either it is the extra food that would go to waste otherwise. These food donations are directly offered to the beneficiaries reaching out to the foodbank.

· Foodbanks purchase food

Many individuals donate money, the government also offer grants and some businesses also make huge contributions to the accounts. With the money donated, foodbanks can purchase food from wholesale vendors, or from organisations such as Fareshare at reasonable prices to be offered for free.

· Federal programs offer food for the foodbanks

Government fundings are a great source of donations for nation-wide foodbanks. There are grants that can be availed after applying for the help from different federal funding programs. Such government food programs use the already existing foodbanks to distribute food and feed the hungry.

Who are the Beneficiaries of Foodbank in the UK?

Food from donations is distributed through a network of local food banks across the country. These community-based local foodbanks collect donated packaged food from grocery stores, restaurants, supermarkets, and other businesses.

Different people from different backgrounds come to foodbanks for help. However, no one is refused food or judged for getting a meal. Usually the charity beneficiaries are:

• Homeless people
• People facing financial hardships
• Drug addicts
• People suffering from mental illness
• People facing domestic abuse
• Unemployed
• Debt ridden
• Anyone in an emergency

Anyone can reach out to a foodbank and get a meal without any background check or other details.

How can you contribute towards society via foodbanks?

If you are a concerned citizen and want to help the poor, here are a few ways you can do it. Every person has something to offer, it can be a financial contribution, time to volunteer or a complete plan to start a new foodbank system.

If you want to contribute towards this cause, here are a few ways you can do so:

· Donation

You can donate to a foodbank as a business or an individual so that they can feed more people. It can be in the form of money or some food items that the community needs.

· Volunteering

If not a monetary donation, you can always offer your time by volunteering at a foodbank. People who may not have much money on their hands can volunteer their time at a local foodbank, which could lead to further volunteering opportunities in the future.

· Starting a new foodbank

If you have the resources and want to do something big for the community, you can find a location where a foodbank is needed and start your venture of helping the society.

Read: How to Start a Foodbank for Your Local Community?

How Can Foodbanks Distribute Food More Efficiently?

Foodbanks need an efficient way to work in order to save the time and efforts of their staff and reduce the errors. A complete digitalisation of your foodbank system can make recording, management and reporting easier than ever. An online foodbank system can help the staff manage the daily tasks on time. The issue here is that you need to know how to choose the right foodbank management system.

Intelicle offers bespoke foodbank management systems for foodbank in the UK to help charity beneficiaries but in a much smoother way. At Intelicle, we understand that the staff is reluctant to learn a new system but the user-friendly interface and guide videos make you a pro in no time.

Conclusion

Foodbanks can help feed charity beneficiaries in case of any emergency to help them. They are also a great way to give back to the community. It allows the community to get involved and help the less fortunate people.

They often prove as a lifeline for people who are struggling to feed themselves or their families. They provide food and support to those in crisis, such as the homeless, those who have fallen on hard times, people with a mental health problem or addiction, or anyone experiencing domestic abuse.

If you already have a foodbank or want to start a new one, you must bring it online for easier management and to help more people than ever. That is possible with the help of a bespoke foodbank management system that fulfills all your requirements.