Food banks

We run food banks year-round from many of our churches and community centres.

As a result of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, some food banks have seen a dramatic rise in need.

While many churches run traditional food banks, they also look for innovative ways to meet the local need.

We are feeding people through food banks, lunch clubs for people who are isolated, free meals for children during the school holidays and emergency food parcels and in some areas we are running community supermarkets and food pantries, which offer products at greatly reduced prices.

There's no typical food bank user anymore, as people’s situations are so varied. We see people use our service who are in work, but their rent or mortgages have increased so much that they can no longer afford food to keep a roof over their head.

Claire Bowerman, community centre manager in Preston

Using our local networks in communities across the UK, we are reaching people who can no longer feed themselves or their families and who are cut off from other sources of support.

Not all our churches and community centres have foodbanks as some Corps focus on different local needs like homeless outreach services. Some food banks respond to local need where necessary, and some are organised on a more ongoing basis.

To find out whether your local Salvation Army runs a foodbank or a different community service, visit our map page.

You could also contact your local council or the Trussell Trust for advice on how you can be referred for food support.