How to help local food banks and community groups this festive season
Many of us are looking forward to Christmas, but for many families across Northern Ireland the festive season can be a struggle.
As the rising cost of living continues to bite for many of us when it comes to food and essential items, many people are finding themselves in difficult positions, some even for the first time.
Christmas is well-known as being the season of goodwill, so it’s a great idea to lend a hand to those struggling within your community if you’re able to.
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This could be by volunteering your time at a food bank, making a financial donation, or donating some food items or gifts to make the festive season brighter.
Every little bit of time spent volunteering, or each donated item makes a world of difference to those who need it most this Christmas.
Here are just a few of the local groups you can help this Christmas.
The People’s Kitchen
Based at 1 Antrim Road in North Belfast, The People’s Kitchen have been helping the city’s homeless and those who find themselves struggling amid the cost of living crisis this festive season.
The charity began life in 2017 as St Patrick’s Soup Kitchen, with volunteers serving warm drinks and sandwiches from a trolley in a doorway, but has since grown to operating seven days a week as the need in the city increased further.
You can leave donations of non-perishable food, clothes, hats and scarves, and sleeping bags into their base, or donations can be made through their Facebook page here.
The Salvation Army
For the past 45 years, The Salvation Army have been running their Family Christmas appeal and this year, they’re particularly calling for gifts for teenage boys.
Last year The Salvation Army Family Appeal at Christmas, along with other donors, helped over 2,000 families (more than 5,000 children) across Northern Ireland.
Donations of new, unwrapped gifts can be made at Salvation Army premises across Northern Ireland until December 19 – with donations to the fundraising page accepted after this.
For more details on how to donate click here, and to make a financial donation click here.
Trussell Trust Food Banks
The Trussell Trust operate food banks throughout the UK, with 23 of these operating throughout Northern Ireland.
They work to provide emergency food and support, with the charity distributing over 90,000 parcels in 2023-2024 as need increased.
You can volunteer your time at your local food bank, or donate food items. Donations can also be made at Tesco shops.
The website for your local food bank will also have details of specific items they need at that time. You can find your nearest food bank by putting your postcode into the website here.
Foodstock
Based on the Andersonstown Road in West Belfast, Foodstock was established as a community response to tackle local poverty.
The charity is currently operating seven days per week to support hundreds of households with food parcels and, through the summer months, have helped hundreds of families with school uniforms.
Last Christmas, they provided new toys for over 2,000 children, delivered 600 cooked Christmas dinners, and distributed hundreds of food hampers to families struggling over the holiday period.
This year, the charity is aiming to reach a record number of children through its Christmas Wish Tree. Each tag on the tree represents a child referred to the charity for support this festive season.
To support their appeal, you can call into Foodstock at 140 Andersonstown Road, lift a tag from the tree, donate a new toy, or some food items for the charity’s Christmas hampers.
Bangor Food Bank and Community Support
It has been running for years – covering from Holywood right down to Portaferry.
It was set up on the idea “that poverty borne problems could be answered best by looking to the community for solutions and working together to tackle them”.
It works with a wide range of front line service providers which act as referral agents to ensure that the food bank’s resources are directed to “the most deserving in the community”.
To find out more about the food bank and donate, click here.
Simon Community NI
The charity offers specialist support services in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland including homelessness prevention, accommodation services, health, well-being and practice development.
To donate and find out more information, click here.
To donate to a local service instead, simply contact your nearest project to discuss what they need most and when you can drop items off. Contact details can be found here.
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