Wantage and Grove Food Bank
Emergency food parcels delivered to people in need in Wantage, Grove and nearby, run by local churches
A community food bank run by local churches
Wantage and Grove Food Bank is a practical, community-based project organised by local churches which provides food parcels to people in the area. It gives short-term emergency help to people who, for whatever reason (for example job loss, benefit problems or ill health), are unable to feed themselves or their families.
The Food Bank depends entirely on voluntary help and donations of food or money, and has been supported by the community for over ten years. If it has surplus funds, the committee may occasionally donate to other nearby food banks in need or, in exceptional circumstances and with the referring agency, help clients with other necessities for daily living.
The Food Bank is under the auspices of Wantage Community Church, which is part of Oxfordshire Community Churches, a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3223210, registered charity number 1056921).
For the latest delivery statistics, see the Food Bank's Facebook page.
How to get a food parcel
- 1
Contact a referral agency
The Food Bank does not take requests from individuals. Contact or visit one of the referral agencies below, giving your name, address and a contact number if you have one.
- 2
Explain what you need
You will be asked for a brief reason why you need the parcel and when you will be at home to receive it. Let the agency know about special dietary needs, such as being vegetarian, and the Food Bank will try to accommodate them.
- 3
The agency applies for you
The agency applies to the Food Bank for a parcel on your behalf.
- 4
A parcel is delivered to your home
The parcel contains food to last at least three days. It usually arrives within 24 hours, but parcels are not delivered on Saturdays or Sundays. Vale Community Impact may be willing to keep the parcel for a short time if you have to collect it.
Referral agencies
These agencies can apply to the Food Bank for a parcel for you:
- Vale Community Impact (formerly Wantage Independent Advice Centre), 16 Market Place, Wantage, OX12 8AE (behind Barclays Bank). Tel. 01235 765348, help@vci.org.uk, www.vci.org.uk
- Social Services
- Job Centres
- Your child's school
- Your doctors' surgery
- Your health worker
- Your local church (www.wantageandgrovechurchpartnership.org.uk)
- Charities working with people or families in need
For referring agencies: the Food Bank needs the client's name, their address and contact number if possible, the number of adults and children to be catered for, a brief reason for the parcel, whether a repeat parcel will be needed in a week's time, and an idea of when the client is at home. Email wantageandgrovefoodbank@gmail.com. Agencies can also ask to receive the Food Bank's news emails.
What to donate
These items go into the food parcels. Donations with one or more months to go on their best before date are very welcome. Because of storage and health regulations, the Food Bank cannot use fresh or homemade food, or items past their best before date.
- Tins or packets of soup
- Packets of rice and packets of pasta
- Tins of fish and tins of meat
- Jars of pasta sauce
- Tins of tomatoes, potatoes and other vegetables
- Tins of baked beans or spaghetti
- Tins of fruit and tins of rice pudding
- Tins of custard (not needing milk added)
- Jars of jam
- Packets of biscuits and breakfast cereal
- Packets of teabags and jars of coffee
- Packets or jars of hot chocolate (not needing milk added)
- UHT milk and packets of sugar
- Large cartons of long life fruit juice
- Packets of sweets and treats
The Food Bank now accepts donations of pet food too.
Where to leave food donations
- The Cornerstone Cafe, 10 Savile Way, Grove, nr. Wantage OX12 0PT
- The King's Centre Shop, Unit 3B, Kings Walk, Limborough Rd, Wantage OX12 9AJ (opposite Sainsbury's)
- Vale Community Impact, 16 Market Place, Wantage, OX12 8AE (behind Barclays Bank)
- The Co-op, 1 Savile Way, Grove, OX12 0PT
- Most local churches
Sainsbury's and Waitrose in Wantage town centre usually have collection points for Food Bank donations too.
Larger donations, such as harvest festival or Christmas collections: email wantageandgrovefoodbank@gmail.com to arrange a time for them to be picked up or delivered. Many schools and churches give donations after their harvest festivals; please give advance notice of the date where possible, and note there is a limited list of items the Food Bank can accept.
Christmas parcels
In early December the Food Bank gives Christmas food parcels to clients receiving an ordinary food parcel. Extra Christmas parcels can go to people or families nominated by referring agencies, who should email wantageandgrovefoodbank@gmail.com before mid-November.
Christmas parcels usually contain a Christmas pudding, a Christmas cake, a tin of ham, a tin of salmon, mince pies, biscuits and other suitable items, and donations of these are gratefully received. The best before date should be at least the January after Christmas.
Donating money
The Food Bank is very grateful for donations of money as well as food.
- Cheques: make cheques payable to 'Wantage and Grove Food Bank' and email wantageandgrovefoodbank@gmail.com for the address to send them to.
- Bank transfer: email wantageandgrovefoodbank@gmail.com for bank details.
- Cash or cheques in person: put them in an envelope marked 'Wantage and Grove Food Bank' and hand it in at the Cornerstone Cafe in Grove or the King's Centre shop opposite Sainsbury's in Wantage. Include your name and address if you would like a receipt, acknowledgement or letter of thanks.
Volunteering
Volunteers help in several ways, and training is given for all of these jobs:
- Joining a rota (usually fortnightly) to pack and deliver food parcels
- Staffing the mobile phone that takes parcel requests from agencies and passes them to the volunteers on the delivery rota
- Picking up donated food from collection points around Wantage and Grove and taking it to the food bank store
- Dating donated food and counting it into stock
- Packing and wrapping the special Christmas parcels in early December
To volunteer you will need a reference from a local church leader. Email wantageandgrovefoodbank@gmail.com for an application form.
Questions and answers
Can I ask the Food Bank for a parcel myself?
No. The Food Bank does not accept requests from individuals. Contact a referral agency such as Vale Community Impact, a Job Centre, social services, your doctors' surgery, your child's school, a health worker, your local church or a charity supporting you.
How quickly will a parcel arrive?
Usually within 24 hours of the agency's request, but parcels are not delivered on Saturdays or Sundays.
How long does a parcel last?
A parcel contains food to last at least three days.
Can the Food Bank cater for special diets?
Tell the referral agency about special dietary requirements, such as being vegetarian, and the Food Bank will try to accommodate them.
Can I donate fresh or homemade food?
No. Because of storage and health regulations, the Food Bank cannot use fresh or homemade food, or anything past its best before date. Please give items with at least a month left on the date.
Does the Food Bank take pet food?
Yes, the Food Bank now accepts donations of pet food.
Is the Food Bank a registered charity?
It runs under the auspices of Wantage Community Church, part of Oxfordshire Community Churches, registered charity number 1056921.
Are there other food banks nearby?
Yes, in Abingdon, Didcot, Faringdon, Oxford and Swindon. They do not all operate in the same way as Wantage and Grove Food Bank.
Help the Food Bank or ask a question
To give money, arrange a larger food donation, volunteer or make a referral as an agency, email the Food Bank.
Opening hours
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