Your Trust leisure centres support emergency food donations

Various food projects and food donation centres are being set up across the borough to help bring in stock from local residents into the warehouse

Three emergency food donation centres have launched at Your Trust leisure centres this week supporting the borough’s Community Warehouse.

The Community Warehouse was developed and set up to help combat food poverty and crisis in the borough during the covid-19 pandemic. The warehouse is a central distribution hub stocked with food and essential items for redistribution to voluntary sector groups and individuals to access food without deprivation.

Voluntary organisations, statutory bodies and Action Together in Rochdale are working together to tackle food crisis for families and individuals struggling to afford food and the stigma and shame around food poverty and access to appropriate food for those isolated in Rochdale borough.

Various food projects and food donation centres are being set up across the borough to help bring in stock from local residents into the warehouse including the door-to-door Street Ambassador Programme.

Food donated at supermarkets is already going to support the excellent work of the foodbanks and pantries in the borough but many other organisations struggle to get food for their families or individuals struggling to afford food – so this additional option to donate will be a lifeline for the Community Warehouse and the groups it supports.

Andy King, CEO at Your Trust, said: “The donation points at Heywood Sports Village, Middleton Arena and Rochdale Leisure Centre give a convenient drop off point for any tinned, boxed, dried food as well as toiletries and baby products. 

“The Community Food Warehouse provides vital support for families and individuals in the borough. Food poverty and deprivation is still prevalent in the borough and we still need to offer this lifeline to our local community during the current times.

“We encourage local people who are able to donate items to visit the leisure centres and drop them into the donation bins available so they can be distributed to local residents who need them the most.”

For more information about the Community Warehouse, please contact Julie Durrant at Action Together on 0161 339 2345 extension 4107 or email Julie.durrant@actiontogether.org.uk.