Give Help
Donate Food
You can download a printable list to take when shopping here.
We’d like to express our heartfelt thanks on behalf of all those that we are able to help because of your generous donations and support. All your donations go directly towards helping those in Medway who are struggling financially at the moment. Sadly, the need remains very high, whilst the ability of many to donate has reduced. There are now many items where our stock levels are very low or exhausted. In order for us to be able to continue to offer the same level of support to those facing a time of financial crisis, we continue to need your help, but please only donate if you are financially in a position to do so.
The items that we currently urgently need are on the stock shortage or ‘shopping’ list (attached in two print sizes). Because of the high level of need, the demand on all our stock items outweighs the donations of items coming into our warehouse. By way of an example, in July 2023 we noted on our shopping list that we preferred not to receive more tinned soup as we were well stocked. We are now in a position where there are no ‘well stocked’ items and we are very short of tinned soup and many other items to the point where we are having to buy stock. This has resulted in the current shopping list being very long. Anything that you are able to donate will make a real difference in the life of someone in crisis in Medway.
If you are part of a local group, church, school or business that would like to collect and donate items for us, you may wish to consider focussing on just a few items or even one item from our long list. This will help your group or team members to remember the items required, and will help us to significantly improve the stock levels of those items. If you would like us to suggest particular items for your group to focus on, then please contact our office. Alternatively, look at our social media pages for our current suggested ‘Items of the Week’.
We aim to provide a broad spread of basic provisions and some treats and extras where we can. We also stock non-food items such as toiletries and cleaning products, as these are also needed by those who come to us for help.
All donated items should be unopened, in date (e.g. more than 2 months before the “best before date” or BBD) and in good condition. Medway Foodbank only works with non-perishable items (tinned and dried goods), i.e. not fresh, chilled or “use by” dated items. These criteria help us to avoid waste and support more people.
Items on our shopping list can be purchased and donated locally at:
- the two large Tesco stores (Strood and Gillingham)
- the two large Asda stores (Chatham and Gillingham Pier)
- Co-op Walderslade
- Morrison’s Strood
If you would value a reminder of the items that we currently need as you walk into most of these local stores, you may like to consider using the free BanktheFood app. Just download the app from your app store and follow the instructions to get started and ‘follow’ Medway Foodbank. The app will send you a helpful ‘ping’ with a reminder of our stock needs when you are shopping in the local supermarket. Head to the website at www.bankthefood.org to find out more and follow the instructions.
If you wish to deliver items directly to our warehouse or need items to be collected, please call or email our office first on 01634 757057 or [email protected] to arrange a slot. If you receive the answerphone when you call, please do leave a message and we will call you back as soon as possible. Please do not just turn up as we want to keep everyone safe and we do not want you to have a wasted journey.
To use supermarket ‘home delivery’ to purchase and deliver direct to our warehouse, please contact our office first so that you know the best delivery days/times for us before you book a slot with the supermarket.
We are also very grateful for financial donations as we face huge increases in running costs and currently need to buy stock to meet the demand.
Details for donating financially can be found here.
This also includes information on other ways to give, such as through Bankuet – a simple, safe and low waste digital way of donating as a one-off or regularly. We can then use those funds to purchase food items that we need the most and Bankuet will arrange delivery to us at a convenient time.
We also have a ‘Donate’ button at the top of our Facebook page. In addition, you can choose Medway Foodbank to set up a fundraiser for birthdays and events.
You are also able to provide valuable support to Medway Foodbank by letting others know about our needs, arranging a local or group collection, or praying for the work we do and those that we help. If you would like to know more about these areas of support, please do contact our office.
THANK YOU – we are helping hundreds of people in need each week and we cannot do this without your invaluable support.
Kind regards,
Medway Foodbank
Please also see the table below for our supermarket food collection points.
Items can be placed in the foodbank collection points in the 2 large Tesco and 2 large Asda stores in Medway, as well as at Morrisons Strood and the Co-op at Walderslade.
Please note that for Tesco and Asda these points can only be used for items purchased in-store. The reason for this is that these supermarkets also donate a financial top-up for items bought and donated by the public in their stores which we really appreciate.
| Location of food donation point | Opening hours | Comments |
|
Asda Chatham Superstore 387 Maidstone Road, Chatham, ME5 9SE |
Mon opens 07.00 Tues, Wed, Thurs, Friday 24 hrs Sat closes 22.00 Sun 10.00-16.00 |
for items purchased in-store |
|
Asda Gillingham Pier Superstore Pier Road, Gillingham, ME7 1RZ |
Mon -Sat 07.00 – 23.00 Sun 10.00 – 16.00
|
for items purchased in-store |
|
Coop Walderslade Walderslade Road, Chatham, ME5 9LL |
Mon – Sat 07.00 – 22.00 Sun 10.00 – 16.00 |
|
|
Morrisons Supermarket, Knight Road, Strood, ME2 2AA |
Mon-Sat 10.00 – 16.00 Sun 10.00-1600
|
|
|
Tesco Gillingham Superstore, Courteney Road, Gillingham, ME8 0GX |
Mon-Fri 24 hours Saturday open until 22.00 Sun 10.00-16.00 |
for items purchased in-store |
|
Tesco Strood Superstore, Charles St, Strood, ME2 2DE |
Mon-Sat 06.00 – midnight Sun 10.00-16.00 |
for items purchased in-store |
|
Medway Foodbank Warehouse
|
See introduction above |
Please do contact the office if you have any questions or need further information. Thank you for your ongoing help, support and prayers – Medway Foodbank would not operate without your kindness and generosity.
We always welcome donations and promise to use them to provide help to people in crisis. Occasionally we send food to other nearby foodbanks to support their work, particularly if they experience shortages. This ensures your donations go to help people wherever they are in the UK. Donated items that are not deemed suitable for distribution to clients may be used to raise funds or may be passed on to other charitable organisations in Medway. In addition, surplus stock may also be passed on to organisations supporting those in need in the Medway area. If you would like more information on this then please use the ‘contact us’ section to make your request, giving your full name, contact telephone number and postal address for our response. Thank You.