Rochdale Foodbank collection boxes for schools, churches and the workplace to encourage donations

Collection boxes for the Rochdale Foodbank will be placed in places of work, schools and churches in a new campaign to encourage more donations.

The FoodGiftBox campaign is aiming to increase donations as well as reach more people who wish to donate to the Rochdale Foodbank.

A number of key corporate supporters have already agreed to take a FoodGiftBox, such as H Bell & Sons, Zen Internet and Mysonpages.

Iain Wight, development manager at Rochdale Foodbank said: “We are running this campaign for a couple of important reasons.

“Firstly, the cost-of-living crisis has caused around a 40% increase in demand for our food parcels, which puts a strain on our food stocks and our finances, so we can buy in food to cover shortfalls.

“Secondly, we lost a lot of regular food donors as a result of the pandemic, and we want to re-engage with the whole community of Rochdale. Our foodbank only exists because of the generous giving of local people.

“We want to make it as easy as possible for them to donate food where it is most convenient.”

 

 

David Brereton, CEO of Mysonpages, said: “We can see there is a need for the foodbank in Rochdale, so we all said ‘yes’ to helping by having a FoodGiftBox at our premises.”

Rochdale Foodbank was launched at St Mary in the Baum in 2012, and operates on a voucher system, provided by over 130 agencies in Rochdale who have identified people in crisis, who may struggle to buy food.

The voucher is honoured like a cheque, in exchange for three-days’ worth of goods.

The foodbank is open every day for users between 11am and 12.30pm, with a Saturday centre at the Branches Fellowship in Smithy Bridge.

Donations can also be made directly to the donation centre on Newgate, Rochdale town centre, OL16 1XB on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

If you would like to have a FoodGiftBox at your premises, please email the FoodGiftBox campaign: foodgiftbox@rochdale.foodbank.org.uk.

When the box is full, simply email the dedicated FoodGiftBox email address and ask for it to be emptied. A volunteer driver from Rochdale Foodbank will do the rest.

A map of all local FoodGiftBoxes can be found here.