Food is donated
All food given out by foodbanks is donated from schools, churches, businesses or individuals.
2. Food is sorted and stored
At the warehouse, volunteers weigh and sort the donated food according to type and 'best before date'. They also check it is undamaged and suitable for use before packing it into boxes for storage.
3. Frontline professionals identify people in need
Professionals from statutory and voluntary organisations such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, Citizens Advice Bureau staff, welfare officers, the police and probation officers, identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher.
4. Clients receive emergency food
Clients bring their voucher to a foodbank centre where it can be exchanged for three days supply of emergency food. The list of foods in each parcel have been designed by dieticians to provide recipients with nutritionally balanced food. In all of our centres apart from the Hanwell Centre, clients can select their own food from shelves with help from a volunteer.
5. Clients are signposted to further support
Clients can either meet with an advisor at the foodbank centre or be referred or signposted for additional help.
