Free food banks Leeds and West Yorkshire | Get free food in Leeds and West Yorkshire

The city of Leeds has a number of food banks that families and individuals can turn to. Thousands of struggling residents use vouchers from the council or that are given to them by social workers in order to get a free bag of groceries or parcel of food from the centres, and for people with a local connection outside of the city, there are also organisations across West Yorkshire.

Much of the assistance for feeding the poor and hungry is provided by churches, and many of them are part of the Trussell Trust network. With more people struggling and benefits being cut increasing across the county, the number of providers also continues to increase, and other charities are continuing to open food banks in West Yorkshire.

When applying for an emergency box of free food, a voucher will be provided, and people can contact the Leeds City Council, a doctor, care professional, or other social worker. In many cases a council office or government authority can signpost a resident to these services in West Yorkshire. They also want to help the vulnerable receive the healthy food they need, so vouchers will be given out for everything from non-perishable items to referrals to feeding sites.

Free church food distribution centres in West Yorkshire

There are many different faith based churches to turn. Not only will a food parcel be provided to a family or individual with a voucher, but volunteers provide advice and other practical support, such as signposting to clothing or shelters.

Elim Pentecostal Church operates a free food bank for Knottingley. This organisation is part of Trussell Trust, and for people with a voucher, parcels of groceries, food, tinned meat, and more is provided. Individuals need to be local to Knottingley and be found eligible for help from the council or their care worker. The centre can be called at 01977 278616, and the address is Tythe Barn Road.

Farsley Community Church building, Back Lane, Farsley, LS28 5UJ, telephone 0113 257 9227 is another option.

Moortown Methodist Church (post Alderton Rise, phone 07542 189059) as well as Lister Hill Baptist Church (post 1 Brownberrie Ave, Horsforth, LS18 5PW, telephone 07758 196 951) provide free food in northern Leeds. The parcels may have pudding, coffee, nappies, and more. Both partner with Trussell Trust.

Foodbanks from churches in Eastern Leeds can help the vulnerable. There are several locations to try for a parcel. The distribution centres are St Richards Church on Ramshead Hill, Seacroft, LS14 1BX is open on Tuesdays as well as Church of the Epiphany, Gipton, LS9 6SW.

Health for All Cafe and its partner charities provides emergency food in southern Leeds. Volunteers pack boxes of food and collect perishable and canned goods from supermarkets and restaurants in West Yorkshire. There are several places to pick up a parcel, if the family has a voucher.

• Drighlington Methodist Church on King Street is open on Monday from 2 – 4pm.
• Middleton St Cross can provide a parcel on Tuesday from 10 am to 2pm. The location is 38 Acre Crescent, Middleton, LS10 4DJ. Another place on Tuesdays is Gildersome St Peters Church.
• Hunslet Methodist Church. Post is Telford Terrace, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 2HR can provide free food parcels on Wednesday from 10am – 12pm, and New Horizons Church as 32a Commercial St is open Wednesday pm.
• Temple Lawn Community Centre, Third Avenue, John O’Gaunts, Rothwell, LS26 0AB is open on Thursday.

The cafe also services free meals and gives small presents at Christmas. They feed the poor, lonely, pensioners, and struggling in the area. The food is given out during the month of December, and find how to get free Christmas meals.

Additional emergency food centres in West Yorkshire

Bradford DSP, or the Discretionary Support scheme, can help provide food, housing, and other support. This is a local welfare crisis programme that is for the low income. One use of a grant from the council is for providing free food for a few days, or they have referrals to other agencies. Continue with Bradford Discretionary Support Payments.

West Yorkshire Salvation Army soup kitchen serves a warm meal to people in food poverty and the homeless. The charity organisation also offers free advice, support, or staff will chat with local vulnerable residents. The site is at St James Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 1YS, and telephone is 01422353737. Many people donate or volunteer to help them keep a Christmas meal going.

Calderdale Living Support is the welfare scheme for people in poverty or on benefits. The council, using government funds, can provide families with a voucher to a local food bank in West Yorkshire. The authorities can provide other assistance as well, ranging from referrals to a parcel of groceries or household items. More on the Calderdale welfare support scheme.

Jubilee Centre supports people in the Bradford area, which is close by. They operate a voucher system and do not provide emergency food parcels, but they do have referrals to families in a crisis. The address is Jermyn Street, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD1 4EJ. Call 01274 409 562.

FareShare provides food to other not-for-profits, and can refer the low income to centres. Moor View, off New Princes Street, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 9NF, call 0113 394 6120.

Huddersfield Mission runs a community cafe. It will have low cost food and meals for people in poverty, and volunteers from the organisation will also help clients apply for benefits. Other services, in addition to the food, includes signposting, advice, and additional support for women. Read more Huddersfield Mission services.

Kirklees Council runs the local welfare scheme in the area. It is for the very low income and families living in poverty, and the government can provide food vouchers, boxes of groceries, and other support to people. Staff also signpost residents to other charity food banks, and learn more on Kirklees local welfare.

Leeds local support – The city council, using government funds as part of welfare, can provide low income and families in poverty with free food and other support. The council scheme can help Leeds residents with other basic needs, such as clothing or furniture, as well as provide a bag of groceries or a voucher to a food bank. More on Leeds local welfare support scheme.

Simon on the Streets can help rough sleepers in Leeds. There may be accommodations, free hot meals in an emergency, clothing, singposting, and vouchers to a food bank. The drop in centre is at Cardigan Centre, Cardigan Road. Phone 113 274 5636.

PAFRAS (Positive Action For Refugees and Asylum Seekers) will only help asylum seekers in poverty. There may be toiletries, crisis food parcels, baby items, and hot meals or dinners too, including for pregnant women The not-for-profit is located at 231-235 Chapeltown Road, Leeds, LS7 3DX.