Food banks serving Swansea

The residents of Swansea are not alone when budget pressures cause hunger. Area volunteers work to distribute donated food to the individuals and families that might otherwise go hungry.

Several MPs have taken an interest in the operations and expansions of these organisations. While the need for food handouts is criticised, the services have received much praise. Government has been unable to meet the needs of a population that is struggling to pay the bills during periods of rising costs and stagnating wages. These food aid organisations have embraced the challenge of eliminating hunger.

One attempt to serve the 21 per cent of local children who grow up in poverty has been the creation of the Eastside Food Bank in Bonymaen. This centre first opened in 2014 and has provided hours for residents to pick up food donations each week. The centre and storage space is currently being donated by Mount Zion Baptist Church which is located on Mansel Road. Anyone can be referred for free food assistance, with many referrals coming from the Family Support Centre and Community First. Enquiries may be made on 01792 412755 for pick ups. Donations may be dropped off on site or at the Swansea Civic Centre building which holds donation bins.

Swansea Foodbank has the greatest presence in the area, providing several distribution centres for pickup of donated items. This organisation is a partner of the national Trussell Trust network. Residents must be referred by a participating service provider or money adviser in order to receive vouchers. These may be redeemed for food parcels at any of these locations.

• City Church on Dyfatty Street is typically open on Wednesday mornings.
• Gorseinon Institute is located on Lime Street beside the job centre. Hours are limited to Thursday mornings. This is the primary location.
• Red Cafe opened a location on Mumbles Road which opens Monday mornings.
• Ty Croeso is open on Tuesday mornings. It is located on High Street in Clydach.

Swansea Foodbank prefers that anyone with an enquiry contact them directly on 07815 534095 rather than calling the individual locations. Volunteers typically staff those locations only on certain days.

Someone that would like to receive donations will need to find out the best way to get referred for free food hampers. Swansea Foodbank maintains a list of organisations and professionals that can issue the vouchers to clients. The purpose is to ensure that someone is getting help with their situation that has caused them to fall short of money for meals.

For example, someone who is unemployed may wish to explain to their job centre helper that they are unable to feed themselves or their families. Likewise a money adviser can determine from a surgery that a client cannot afford to buy the necessary items to maintain proper nutrition. They can issue the number of vouchers required to cover the needs of the household for several days.

While Swansea Foodbank is a religious organisation, clients do not need to be affiliated with any religious group. Volunteers come from several local churches, with operations conducted with the help of Riverside Christian Fellowship.