Free food banks Devon

Several independent free foodbanks in Devon as well as organisations that are part of the Trussell Trust provide help to individuals and families. Many people have had a reduction in their benefits or incomes and struggle with buying food for their families, and the centres provide assistance while the person addresses the hardship. The organisations also partner with agencies such as CAB or the Devon District council, which can also provide help from the welfare assistance scheme.

The centres depend on donations and volunteers from the local districts for funds. As an example, the council in Exeter provides grants to a few, local independent food banks, as they have had about a 40% increase in usage. The council in Mid-Devon also provides vouchers or pre-paid cards to buy food to families to help them in a crisis.

The locations will provide three to five days worth of food in an emergency, and is can be non-perishable items, vegetables, soups, milk, tea, and much more. The Devon centres will require that a client have a voucher or referral, and they can get them from a care professional, as a doctor, social worker, or their local CAB office.

Also, donate to the food bank if you can as they always need more items. There are several places that this can occur at, including drop off locations in Exeter such as Sainsbury’s Alphington or Co-operative Queen Street. There are also donation centres in other districts, and your local food bank can provide a referral to these.

Locations of Devon indepedent foodbanks

There are four churches in Devon that partner with the Trussell Trust. These locations will have up to three days of free food, if they have a voucher. The locations will have tea, tinned meats and canned fruits. Some of the churches in Devon may also provide free Christmas meals to the homeless and people facing poverty.

• The northern area is served by Mill Street, Bideford, EX39 2JJ. The phone number is 07874 206438.
• Torridge North Devon Food Bank, Unit 2, Supreme House, Pitt Lane, Bideford, Devon, EX39 3JA.
• Holsworthy Food Bank, Pop-In Centre, Manor Suite, Memorial Hall.
• Baptist Church is the local Torrington Food Bank. Address is New Street, and the centre is open on Tuesdays.

Families on Devon can also turn to an independent foodbank or soup kitchen as well. These will have limited hours, so call for more information and also what the application criteria is. The churches and charities try to help as many people as possible by providing free non-perishable items or food. Many will also have other items, such as clothing or volunteers at the centres offer signposting to other programmes.

Okehampton Foodbank is located at Baptist Church. Fore Street, Okehampton , EX20 1AN. The not-for-profit also partners with churches and care agencies on employment and other aid. Telephone – 0800 978 5863.

CHAT is also called Churches Housing Action Team. They are located in Mid Devon, and address is 28 Gold Street, Tiverton EX16 6PY. The charity provides free food, meals, soup, tomatoes and other aid. They may even provide shelter to the homeless and referrals to schemes for deposits as well. Find CHAT assistance programmes.

Some people can use the food bank in nearby Cornwall. The main centre is Camborne, Pool, Illogan, Redruth Foodbank, and it can be ringed at 01209 714592 for an application.

There is a foodbank local to Bude. The location is the New Life Centre, 35 The Strand, Bude, Cornwall EX23 8RA, telephone 01288 359714.

Open Door Centre runs a cafe that serves healthy, low cost meals to the needy. Other services from the charity range from practical support to vouchers to food banks. Clients include youth and others that are vulnerable, and find more assistance from Open Door Centre.

Emergency food bank at Supreme House. They have centres in Barnstaple, Bideford, and other cities in Devon. The main office is at Pitt Lane, Bideford, Devon. A voucher is required to use this centre, and it is only open a few days per week.

South Molton food bank is at Duke Street, South Molton, EX36 3BU. Call 07542 175184276 for hours.

Salvation Army has soup kitchens and foodbanks in Devon. The homeless and people facing poverty can use this charity and it will have tinned meats, nappies, fruits, and other assistance. The distribution is at Supreme House, Pitt Lane, EX39 3JA. Another office is at Barnstaple, Oakleigh Road, EX32 8JT. Ring the centres at 07542 175786.

Trussell Trust foodbanks operate in Devon. There are a few locations for people in need. For clients with a voucher, they may be given up to 3 days of free groceries in a crisis. The Oasis Project is one location at 28 Manor Street, Plymouth, PL1 1TW. Ring 01752 254981. Or northern Plymouth and Devon is covered by North Plymouth Community Church, Plymbridge Road, Estover, Devon, PL6 7LF. The phone number for this free charity is 07759 258889.

Free food from the government and Devon councils

City of Plymouth – Residents that are threatened by a crisis, of which lack of food may qualify, can contact the council. The emergency grant scheme can be used to provide a parcel of food or groceries to families on a low income. This is a discretionary programme though, and the council is not obligated to assist. Find more details on the Plymouth emergency grants and welfare scheme.

Food from the Devon Welfare Scheme is for people local to Devon. The council provides pre-paid cards and other forms of aid that can be used as one-off assistance to individuals faced with a crisis. The cards can be used to pay for meals, parcels of food, or groceries from supermarkets. The Devon local welfare scheme can also pay for other bills the family has.

St. Petrock crisis centre offers a number of assistance programmes to low income families and residents. The staff from the charity can refer a resident to a local food bank, and a shelter for rough sleepers will serve free hot meals and provide clothing. One aim if the organisation is to ensure people from across Devon have some form of food. Learn more on support services from St. Petrock’s.

Torbay District runs a crisis support welfare scheme. One component of this is providing vouchers to residents on a low income and the vulnerable, such as the elderly. They can be used to receive a free parcel of food at a local charity, and the boxes may have fresh fruits or non-perishable items. Read more Torbay Crisis Support scheme.