Emergency free food banks Staffordshire

Free food banks are located in towns across Staffordshire County. Many of the locations are run by churches and charity organisations, and the aim is to help the vulnerable and people in poverty that are facing a one-off crisis. The locations can provide emergency food parcels to individuals with a voucher from a care worker, and other support such as signposting or tea and biscuits is offered at many centres.

The foodbanks will partner with local distribution centres that provide the parcels directly to families or individuals. There are locations across Cannock & Chase, Stoke on Trent, Stafford, and other towns, and each centre has groceries, free food, non-perishable canned items, and other aid for the low income. Some even have household items such as clothing.

Free food parcel centres

Cannock & District Foodbank is located in the town of Hednesford. Donations of pasta, coffee, breads, and other items are collected by volunteers, and then assembled into a parcel. The distribution centres in Cannock and Chase include Our Pye Green Christian Centre as well as the food bank at Chase Eye Care.

The main office is at Trinity Church, Station Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 4DH, and call (01543) 422394. This site can provide assistane to people from the community that have a referral.

Burton YMCA provides up to 100 parcels of food per month to families in a crisis. Many of the people dropping in are pensioners, but anyone can stop by the centre for groceries or a meal. Read more information on the Burton YMCA food programmes.

Stoke On Trent and District Gingerbread Centre provides help to single women as well as vulnerable families with children. Support includes resettlement as well as a free hot meal service. Those need are resettling may even get furniture or household goods. The address is Rothesay Court, Furnace Road, Longton, Stoke on Trent, and the telephone is 01782 344740. Read more Gingerbread Centre assistance.

Pye Green Christian Centre is part of the Trussell Trust network. They have several distribution centres in the county, and churches and the volunteers at them will provide a free parcel of food to people with a voucher and that are in a crisis or facing hunger. Telephone – 01543 422394.

Cannock & District sites to use the voucher at include Penkridge Methodist Church or Clay Street on Mondays from 2 – 4pm. Tuesday PM people can use the food centres at Bourne Methodist Church or Salem Methodist Church in Cheslyn Hay. The Wednesday distribution is at Living Springs Church at Girton Road, Cannock.

Four other local churches will also provide a parcel to the needy. These locations are also part of Trussel Trust. They include the following.

• Trinity Church Station Road, Hednesford WS12 4 – Thursdays from 12pm to 2pm.
• Salem Methodist Church provides food on Fridays from 1pm to 3pm. The address is High Street, Cheslyn Hay, Staffordshire WS6 7AB.
• Trinity Methodist Church distributes boxes of groceries on Saturdays from 10am to 2pm. The post is Poplar Street, Norton Canes WS11 9SG.
• Chads Methodist Church is the place to turn to for help on Fridays as well, and they distribute from 4pm to 6pm. The location is Cannock Road, Chadsmoor WS11 5TA.

Stafford and District food bank provides non-perishable bags or boxes of groceries and canned goods. They also have partnerships with other organisations in Staffordshire to coordinate programmes for the poor and low income. Ring (01785) 780329 for hours.

Rugeley Community Church has a Foodbank on site. It offers help in an emergency to people with a voucher. The not-for-profit partners with Job Centre, social services, and doctors in an effort to feed the vulnerable. The food parcel passed out will contain enough groceries and canned goods to last up to 3 days for the famliy. Vouchers can be used at Frank Rogers Walk, Rugeley, Staffordshire, WS15 2YP, (0) 07528447504, or ring one of those organisations for a voucher.

Staffordshire Council welfare schemes give free food parcels

The government also give assistance. Much of this is for residents on benefits or that live in poverty. Free groceries, hot meals, and emergency aid is provided. The council welfare schemes include the following:

• Newcastle
• Staffordshire County council can also provide vouchers for use at a food bank. This is in addition to the other programmes they run. Specialists offer signposting to meal sites, provide vouchers from the crisis Support Scheme, and offer other support. Read Staffordshire crisis support scheme.
• Stroke-on-Trent support scheme can help families in a crisis. Welfare payments or vouchers can be used to help people buy groceries, or there can be vouchers for local food banks that individuals can access in the county. A number of programmes are provided as a form of support to low income families, and learn more on the Stroke-on-Trent social fund.

Places for a meal in Staffordshire

Highfields Stafford Signpost Centre has a cafe for clients and the vulnerable that need support or advice. So a portion of a meal may be served as the person works with a volunteer on applying for benefits or other assistance. Auden Way, Highfields, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST17 9TX. Call (01785) 223860.

Mill Street Methodist Church Soup Kitchen assists the homeless and families on a low income. Free, nutritionally balanced meals are served by volunteers, and a bag of food such as biscuits or fruits may be passed out as well. They also serve a Christmas meal. The church is on Mill Street in Cannock, and the phone is (01543) 577509.