How it works

1. FOOD IS DONATED

Through the generosity of individuals, groups, schools, churches and local organisations, food is donated to us. We also have supermarket collections where we have a permanent basket in the store or where volunteers hand out shopping lists, asking people to buy an extra item from the list and put in the trolley on their way out.

2. FOOD IS SORTED AND STORED

At the warehouse this food is sorted by volunteers according to type and best before date.

3. PEOPLE IN NEED ARE IDENTIFIED

We work in partnership with care professionals such as doctors, health visitors, social workers and Citizens Advice Bureau staff, amongst others, who identify people in crisis and issue them with a Food Bank referral form.

4. CLIENTS RECEIVE FOOD

Our referring partners will forward details of clients requiring a food parcel. Once this is received our warehouse volunteers will prepare appropriate sized parcels.

Parcels will be made available for collection between the hours of 12pm to 2pm at our local collection point based at the the YMCA – North View, Ashington NE63 9XQ.

Clients will be advised when the parcel is available and it must be collected on the day stated. Please note a suitable ID in the form of a driving license, passport, tenancy agreement, benefits entitlement letter, council tax bill or recent bank statement is required.  Clients may also wish to bring their own carrier bags.

We will only deliver to Ashington in exceptional circumstances and with prior agreement.

For clients living in other areas, we continue to operate a delivery service but would ask clients to collect from the YMCA if possible.

If you have any questions please call 01670 943014 between 10am and 3pm, weekdays.