Struggling to make ends meet? Food projects in your neighbourhood can help top up your supplies by offering everything from food banks and deeply discounted food boxes, to community cafes and pantries.
Fiona Williams tells us about The Bread and Butter Thing, a hugely popular project that runs at locations around the North East.
How it works:
We’re an affordable food club that gives people access to food at a deeply discounted price. Each week our members visit their local hub to collect three bags of food for £7.50. These are worth at least £35. One bag is filled with fruit and vegetables and the other two contain chilled goods and store cupboard items.
Our food comes from surplus stock from high street supermarkets, food manufacturers and farmers: for example, some of our food has gone beyond its sell by date but that doesn’t mean it’s not still good to eat! We never know what we’re going to get from one week to the next so your bags will always be different. But it’s always good quality, fresh produce. You probably still need to top up from the shops as well but our food goes a long way to helping you feed your family affordably and healthily.
Why people love it:
Our members love the variety the bags bring to their weekly shop. The contents are often seasonal and there’s always a bit of excitement as people discover what’s inside their weekly bags and discuss how to use ingredients. People often come across items they’ve not cooked before and this gives them the chance to try something different in an affordable way. Our members share recipes, trade items and even bring in cakes and jams for others to enjoy. It’s much more than a way to get cheap food – it brings the community together, improves healthy eating and it saves hundreds of tonnes of food from going to waste.
How to join:
There’s no fee to become a member. Text 07860 063304 with your full name, postcode, and the name of the hub you will be collecting from. You can find your nearest hub on our website at www.breadandbutterthing.org If we don’t have one near you, drop us an email at hello@breadandbutterthing.org and we’ll let you know if we have plans to be in your area soon.
Get in touch with Karbon via the usual channels if you’re in need of a referral to your local food bank (see the back page for ways to get in touch and ask to speak to the Money Matters Team or your housing officer), or contact your local council.
Find support in your community
We’ve put together a full list of food projects in your area,
find out what’s on offer at www.karbonhomes.co.uk/foodsupport Here’s a little flavour…
North Shields, North Tyneside
Cedarwood Trust
www.cedarwoodtrust.com
Hexham, Northumberland
Hexham Community Grocery
communitygrocery.org.uk/hexham
Jarrow, South Tyneside
Bede Helping Hands Food Bank
www.facebook.com/groups/bedeshelpinghands
Consett, County Durham
Glenroyd House
www.glenroydhouse.co.uk
Hendon, Sunderland
Sunderland Food Bank
sunderland.foodbank.org.uk
Stockton, Tees Valley
Ragworth Community Grocery
www.communitygrocery.org.uk/ragworth
Food bank
Food banks are community organisations that can help if you can’t afford the food you need. You’ll get essential supplies and can also get advice about your income and spending. If you live in a rural area and can’t afford to travel, your nearest food bank might be able to deliver. Contact them to check. If the food bank is run by a church or other religious group, they’ll still help you if you’re not religious or from a different religion.
Chargeable food box
Community projects like The Bread and Butter Club sell good quality, nutritional food at heavily discounted prices.
Community Café
Community cafés offer a warm welcome and some wholesome food either on a pay as you feel basis or sometimes for free.
Community pantry
Community shops or pantries allow you to shop at a fraction of the cost. They also sometimes offer activities, courses and are a great place to find support services.
Struggling to make ends meet? Food projects in your neighbourhood can help top up your supplies by offering everything from food banks and deeply discounted food boxes, to community cafes and pantries.
Fiona Williams tells us about The Bread and Butter Thing, a hugely popular project that runs at locations around the North East.
How it works:
We’re an affordable food club that gives people access to food at a deeply discounted price. Each week our members visit their local hub to collect three bags of food for £7.50. These are worth at least £35. One bag is filled with fruit and vegetables and the other two contain chilled goods and store cupboard items.
Our food comes from surplus stock from high street supermarkets, food manufacturers and farmers: for example, some of our food has gone beyond its sell by date but that doesn’t mean it’s not still good to eat! We never know what we’re going to get from one week to the next so your bags will always be different. But it’s always good quality, fresh produce. You probably still need to top up from the shops as well but our food goes a long way to helping you feed your family affordably and healthily.
Why people love it:
Our members love the variety the bags bring to their weekly shop. The contents are often seasonal and there’s always a bit of excitement as people discover what’s inside their weekly bags and discuss how to use ingredients. People often come across items they’ve not cooked before and this gives them the chance to try something different in an affordable way. Our members share recipes, trade items and even bring in cakes and jams for others to enjoy. It’s much more than a way to get cheap food – it brings the community together, improves healthy eating and it saves hundreds of tonnes of food from going to waste.
How to join:
There’s no fee to become a member. Text 07860 063304 with your full name, postcode, and the name of the hub you will be collecting from. You can find your nearest hub on our website at www.breadandbutterthing.org If we don’t have one near you, drop us an email at hello@breadandbutterthing.org and we’ll let you know if we have plans to be in your area soon.
Get in touch with Karbon via the usual channels if you’re in need of a referral to your local food bank (see the back page for ways to get in touch and ask to speak to the Money Matters Team or your housing officer), or contact your local council.
Find support in your community
We’ve put together a full list of food projects in your area,
find out what’s on offer at www.karbonhomes.co.uk/foodsupport Here’s a little flavour…
North Shields, North Tyneside
Cedarwood Trust
www.cedarwoodtrust.com
Hexham, Northumberland
Hexham Community Grocery
communitygrocery.org.uk/hexham
Jarrow, South Tyneside
Bede Helping Hands Food Bank
www.facebook.com/groups/bedeshelpinghands
Consett, County Durham
Glenroyd House
www.glenroydhouse.co.uk
Hendon, Sunderland
Sunderland Food Bank
sunderland.foodbank.org.uk
Stockton, Tees Valley
Ragworth Community Grocery
www.communitygrocery.org.uk/ragworth
Food bank
Food banks are community organisations that can help if you can’t afford the food you need. You’ll get essential supplies and can also get advice about your income and spending. If you live in a rural area and can’t afford to travel, your nearest food bank might be able to deliver. Contact them to check. If the food bank is run by a church or other religious group, they’ll still help you if you’re not religious or from a different religion.
Chargeable food box
Community projects like The Bread and Butter Club sell good quality, nutritional food at heavily discounted prices.
Community Café
Community cafés offer a warm welcome and some wholesome food either on a pay as you feel basis or sometimes for free.
Community pantry
Community shops or pantries allow you to shop at a fraction of the cost. They also sometimes offer activities, courses and are a great place to find support services.
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