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What’s in a food parcel?
Our foodbank provides three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food.
The Trussell Trust has worked with nutritionists to ensure food parcels contains sufficient nutrition for at least three days worth of healthy, balanced meals for individuals and families.
A typical food parcel includes:
- Breakfast cereals
- Soup
- Pasta
- Rice
- Pasta sauce
- Tinned beans/spaghetti
- Tinned meat
- Tinned fish
- Tinned vegetables
- Tinned fruit
- Tinned Rice Pudding/Custard
- Tea or coffee
- UHT Milk
- Cartons of Fruit Juice
- Biscuits
- Snacks
Dietary requirements
Our foodbank can usually adapt your food parcel to meet your dietary needs, for example, gluten free, halal or vegetarian. When you arrive at the foodbank centre, a volunteer will chat to you about an special dietary requirements you may have.
FAQs
Can you deliver?
Unfortunately we serve a very large area, and we don’t have the vehicles or insurance to deliver; this is also a matter of volunteer and client safety. If you live in Sandwell and are living with a disability, you may be eligible to use Sandwell Community Offer, who as well as collecting food parcels can offer advocacy and many other kinds of help.
Why don’t you offer fresh produce?
Where possible, we try to – fresh produce is sourced from agreements with local supermarket, pantry or allotment donors. However, due to it not always being available, it isn’t part of our core parcels. We give it as an extra when available. We also have limited refrigeration space to keep fresh produce, so it must be given out on the day it is donated. Long-life products are easier for us – and our clients – to store in case of an emergency. Additionally, some clients may not have full cooking or fridge facilities (such as being in temporary accommodation, shelters or homeless, or struggling financially to pay for gas and electricity).
Why don’t you offer frozen food?
We don’t have a freezer at present.
What if I’m allergic to a product or have health issues?
We understand that health issues and allergies happen. Where possible, we will always try and swap our products or give you products appropriate for your needs; please tell us, and we’ll see what we can do.
What if I’m vegetarian or following a halal diet?
We make separate packs for vegetarian clients and clients who eat halal food. Just ask.
What if there’s something I don’t like in my parcel?
You can always return items you don’t want; we’d much rather have the stock again than have it waste away in your cupboard. However, we may not always be able to swap items if we’re short of staff or stock; please understand if we’re unable to.
Are all your clients homeless?
While we make parcels for those who don’t have access to stoves and ovens – such as those sleeping rough or in shelters – the majority of our parcels actually go to people in houses. Many clients can’t afford food due to worries such as paying rent, paying for heating, or priority debt.
Can you give out sugar?
It isn’t a core part of our parcels, but if we have sugar that has been donated, we can hand it out. However, it’s not often given to us, as it isn’t on our donation list.
Do you give clothes and cookware?
Unfortunately, while we can refer you to charities which offer clothing, we can’t provide cookware and utensils.