Food Drives

Why are Food Drives so important to us?

We help vulnerable people in food insecurity or crisis. Please organise a food drive and help donate the foods we most urgently need, now.

Hundreds of individuals a month access our Foodbank looking for crisis support.

Individuals who are experiencing food insecurity or crisis, can access our foodbank, three times in every 6-month period. We are a much-needed service in South Tyneside, and unique in our offering of self-referrals; meaning individuals who consider themselves in need do not need a referral from the local authority. We are also part of the Trussell network which has a network of 1,300 food banks across the UK and Northern Ireland, and we are known as South Tyneside Foodbank as part of Trussell.

Our Food drives tend to be organised by supermarkets, schools, churches, pubs & clubs, corporates and community groups at seasonal times such as Harvest Festival or Christmas. We’re very thankful for this seasonal support but the truth is, the service is required all year round, particularly in times of added financial strain, such as school holidays, following unexpected car and household maintenance bills, all of which can send people into a temporary financial and/or emotional crisis.

As much as 45% of all parcels distributed every month go to families, many of whom are not classed as being on a low income, and at least 5% of our parcels are distributed to those in employment.

We are more than a food bank. Please read about some of the further essential services we offer to those who live in South Tyneside. Contact us if you need help yourself.

Why organise a Food Drive?

Your help provides stock for the essential items we regularly use in our crisis food parcels such long life milk, tinned potatoes or Soups. 

Food drives increase our community connections, often, it is through food drives that longer Corporate Partnerships begin. These connections can add huge value to Corporate organisations who get involved, not just Hospitality & Hope.

Food Drive donations can save us thousands of pounds a year. A small donation from many adds up to a tremendous amount of food for those experiencing food insecurity. A £250 donation can contribute to stocking up our food bank for a whole month.

Food drives also raise awareness about food insecurity and the need to advocate for those in crisis.

Food Drives provide real life education and growth. The education provided to a child who takes a can out of the cupboard to share with someone who is in great need can be far more valuable than putting money in a collection tin. Youth Groups can easily become involved in food collection efforts, as can corporates.

Food drives build community so people from a wide range of ages, neighbourhoods, churches, schools, and businesses all work together for Hospitality & Hope, get acquainted and become friends.

How can you promote the food drive and get your food donations to us?

Every year we try to organise and schedule a Calendar of Food Drive Events:

We can come to your venue…….

Consider allowing us the opportunity to give an educational talk, on all the services we provide at Hospitality and Hope, not just our foodbank. Also to help you understand how the vulnerable in our community benefit from the food and money raised, through the delivery of our vital life changing services.

Consider asking for collections of food and cash. Money donations are just as important as food drive items, as they give us core income that allows us to strategically plan for larger projects across our other services.

Are you a supermarket or food retailer, and can offer us a promotional space in your store entranceway for the day? We don’t take up too much space. A branded promotions table, merchandise for sale, we also make use of one of your trollies to collect donations of food, which we add an H&H branded cover to.  We also bring two small pull up banners and leaflets to educate the public on how they can get help and get involved, to benefit South Tyneside. The stand is manned by a staff member and a volunteer.

We can even arrange to have our van collect the food items from you afterwards.