As the number of people affected by hunger increases, tonnes of edible Food is wasted every day. On the United Nations’ International Day of Food Loss and Waste (29 September), charity BanktheFood appeals to communities across the UK to clear out their cupboards, download the free app and connect with community food banks to donate urgently needed items.

BanktheFood’s revolutionary free app sends shoppers a list of urgently needed items from their local food bank. The app not only provides a real-time list of what local foodbanks urgently need to ensure they can offer balanced food parcels; it also pings a list on arrival at the supermarket, enabling shoppers to add an item to their shop and donate it at the local donation station.

Natasha Copus from Southend Foodbank said: “We provide three days of emergency food parcels – enough for three meals a day for three days. Which means that we need different food to make up those meals and we are often short of certain items. The BanktheFood app makes it easier for people to know what we need when we need it.”

Emma Spring, BanktheFood co-founder, explains: “It’s such a simple way to genuinely help the people around you who are struggling and need help now more than ever. The app means people using food banks get a balance of what they need. It would be great if everyone donated just one thing. Each donation will put food on someone’s table, possibly the same day.”

Download the free BanktheFoodapp, find your local food bank and help them get the goods they need. Follow BanktheFoodon Facebook @bankthefood or Twitter @BanktheFoodUK 

BanktheFood’s top tips for donating to foodbanks:

1 Always check the use by dates – foodbanks cannot distribute food that is out of date.

2 Packaging must be in good condition, unopened and undamaged.

3 Foodbanks often need non-food items too, such as deodorant, nappies, sanitary products and pet food. Check the app to see what is needed.

4 Find out what your local foodbank is most in need of – you can find out by using the bankthefood app. This reduces the need for storage and

5 Foodbanks need long lasting store cupboard food, and to be able to offer foods not reliant on using an oven. Ideal things to donate include rice and pasta, lentils and pulses, tinned foods, dehydrated foods such as Pot Noodles or Super Noodles, dried fruit, UHT and powdered milk, cereal, biscuits, tea and coffee, and spreads (marmite, honey, am, peanut butter).