FEEDING THE COMMUNITY

Foodbanks have unfortunately come to be a necessary part of today’s society with ever more people becoming reliant on them. In the current crisis they are more important than ever and increasing numbers have sprung up to fill the void left as other parts of social care and food deliveries struggle to catch up with demand.

Donations have fluctuated massively, with an initial dearth as hoarders stockpiled for imminent lockdown followed by record donations from businesses - restaurants, canteens and cafes, that were not going to open during lockdown. The Birmingham University Students Union Shop kindly donated all their perishable stock. This was obviously a one-off and now food banks are again reliant on the generosity of supporters, largely the public, for their donations of food, money and time. Clothes, toiletries, nappies and baby food, and now PPE (gloves, masks etc.) are also valued contributions.

There are various types of food banks serving the varied needs of their clients: The Trussell group food banks such as Birmingham Central Foodbank, Sparkhill Foodbank, and Acocks Green Foodbank are part-government

funded and service the needy through a voucher referral scheme. Clients can be referred by different agencies, such as the job centre, Citizens Advice, children’s centres and health visitors - check their websites: birminghamcentral.foodbank.org.uk; sparkhill.foodbank.org.uk and www.facebook. com/Acocks-Green-Foodbank for details and opening times.

Donations can also be dropped off at, and online shops can be shipped directly to: B30 Foodbank Warehouse, Unit 17, Castle Road, Kings Norton Business Park, B30 3HZ (Tuesdays and Fridays 14.00 -16.00). Food can be dropped off at the following places: Balsall Heath Church Centre, 100 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, B12 9JU (Tuesday/Wednesday/ Thursday 9am – 14.00), Sainsbury’s Kings Heath (08.00-20.00), Co-Op buidling Stirchley (08.00- 22.00),Co-Op Cotteridge (08.00 – 21.00), Co-Op Dads Lane (07.00-22.00), Co-Op Vicarage Road (07.00-21.00), Lloyds Bank Cotteridge (when the bank is open) and Cotteridge Church (when the church is open).

Let's Feed Brum (https://www.facebook. com/letsfeedbrum/) run a soup kitchen for the homeless which is temporarily closed due to Covid. However, they are now managing the feeding and housing of rough sleepers moved into hostels and hotels whilst isolation is in operation. They are not accepting food donations directly but are partners to The Active Wellbeing Society theaws.co.uk, an

umbrella organisation that is co-ordinating the effort – check its website. Their associates SIFA Fireside, Birmingham’s main day centre for homeless and vulnerably housed adults are organising The Big Brummie-Campout to raise money and awareness for their cause. https://www.sifafireside.co.uk/pages/181-bigbrummie-camp-out-2020

Babies in need are catered for by Brum Baby Bank (also part of The Active Wellbeing Society) - donate here https://uk.gofundme. com/f/brum-baby-bank and apply here if you need help https://theaws.co.uk/food/

There are also the many new local groups that have sprung from the community spirit engendered by the pandemic, such as moseleytogether.org.uk, Kings Heath Volunteers Network (COVID-19), Cooperation Birmingham and Balsall Heath Mutual Aid which not only offer help and support but provide much needed positivity at this time.

I would like to give a special mention to Birmingham Community Solidarity (facebook. com/BrumSolidarity) who in association with The Real Junk Food Project Birmingham and Sewa Day are providing food to needy local residents without requiring a voucher or agency referral. Donations can be dropped off DAILY to Darren and Adele at The Station, Kings Heath High Street, from 10.00-16.00, or can be collected locally. In addition to food donations and toiletries, there is also need for non-perishable food that requires little preparation, such as instant noodles, cup-asoups, breakfast bars etc. This is to help the vulnerable young people of St Basil’s Youth Hub currently being housed in emergency accommodation such as B&Bs and hotels which often have no cooking facilities, just a kettle. Volunteers are also needed for sorting, disinfecting and packing incoming donations, collecting and delivering.

As Stu from BCS says, “Many dark days lie ahead of us, but when all this is over, remember that it was your neighbours, your local communities who came through for you!”

- Max Jalil