November 2022

We need more stock. Demand for our food redistribution work has soared in recent weeks, as more and more people struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.

Now, for the first time, our Food Redistribution Centre is seeking food donations from the public.

We’ll be running a Food Collection Drive in Preston through December, seeking donations of long-life produce to redistribute.

Tins, jars and dried food items are at the top of our list – these are in short supply from our usual channels. Donations will help us to not only keep pace with demand, but ensure the food we’re sending out to our members is the food communities really need.

Donations will be shared with our 125+ members across Lancashire and Cumbria. A recent survey by FareShare nationally found that 79% of the groups supported have experienced an increase in demand, including more than one-in-four (29%) seeing demand double.

“Where do I drop off?”

Drop-off point: Recycling Lives Centre – main reception. 1A Essex Street, Preston, PR1 1QE

“When can I drop items off?”

Drop-off dates/times: December 3^rd-23^rd 2022, 9am-4pm (Mon-Fri only)

“What food items can I donate?”

Ideal goods to donate:

• Pasta, rice or noodles
• Cereals, oats or instant porridge
• Tinned vegetables or pulses
• Tinned items, e.g fish, meats or pies, soups
• Dried goods, e.g pot meals, fruit and nuts
• Cooking sauces
• Peanut butter or preserves
• Tea bags or instant coffee
• Long-life fruit juice
• UHT or powdered milk

Please note, we cannot accept:

• Fresh fruit and vegetables
• Chilled items or frozen items
• Alcohol
• Pet food
• Toiletries
• Cleaning products

“What foods do you normally get in?”

As part of the national FareShare network, we receive stock from the food retail supply chain – supermarkets, producers, wholesalers etc. This produce is surplus for them, so would have been destined for waste. Instead, we redistribute it to charities and community groups which feed around 20,000 people every week. This food is still coming in, but there’s been a drop off in long-life items like pastas, cereals, tinned veg and jars of sauces.

“I can’t get to Preston, can I still help?”

Yes. You could make a donation – just click here.

Chief Executive Alasdair Jackson said: “For the first time in our seven years of redistributing food, we are asking the public to donate goods. We are usually able to meet the needs of our CFMs through surplus stock brought in from the food retail supply chain. However, as demand for food has nearly doubled in recent weeks we need to quickly adapt. We’re hoping the generosity of the public will help us to meet this need – we appreciate any donation that comes our way, particularly as everyone faces rising living costs.”

Learn more about our Food Redistribution work – delivered in partnership with FareShare – here. Or see where the food ends up, here.