BanktheFood News and Stories
Keep up to date with the latest news from BanktheFood.
If you are a journalist looking for a comment, more information, or to connect with someone with personal experience, email us at pressoffice@bankthefood.org or call 07968 594549.
Food Bank Heroes
Food banks are powered by the incredible work of volunteers, To highlight this, we’d like to celebrate a food bank hero each month. Please don’t be shy, email your nominations to us, we would love to hear from you.
This month, Liam Waghorn nominated Canterbury Food Bank’s Adam Ratcliffe, Warehouse Volunteer and Trustee.
Adam said:
"I became a volunteer in November 2022 helping to pack parcels in the warehouse. I have quite a flexible day job and wanted to find a way to give back and to be part of a team. I wanted to have a direct impact in my local community and support those in need. School holiday parcels really struck a chord with me, I hated the idea of children going hungry."
"Parcels are tailored to each household ensuring the donations we have received are put to the best use. I became a Trustee in October 2024 bringing IT and software expertise to the board."
"Knowing that I am having a direct positive impact in my local community is incredibly rewarding. There is no 'typical' service user. Everyone can experience food poverty and food banks provide a vital service to anyone who needs it."
"Recently we collaborated with a local bakery. We received a large donation of cakes very close to their use by date. The bakery managed to use these to create cookie slices and donated the proceeds back to us! Saved on waste and raised money for the food bank."
Adam, we salute the time and heart you put into supporting others. Thank you for making such a real difference!
Stephen Fry encourages people to take 32 seconds to download BanktheFood
The BanktheFood app takes “32 seconds” to download and instantly connects donors to their nearest food bank, providing a list of their most needed items, making it a simple yet impactful way to support the local people during a vital time of year.
Spoken-word artist Georgie Jones wrote the poem 32 Seconds, which illustrates the positive impact of downloading an app in just a few seconds, and Stephen Fry brings Jones’ words to life, making a heartfelt appeal to the public:
“While it may take minutes to make a cup of tea or inflate a balloon, it takes just 32 seconds to download the BanktheFood app and help those struggling to afford food.”
Fry explains: “No one should have to go without essentials, and I know many people would like to help those struggling but may not always know the best way how. I hope that by supporting this campaign, more people become aware of BanktheFood and their free app that helps do good and gets people in the community supporting each other.”
Earlier this year, Trussell revealed that its network of food banks handed out 3.1 million food parcels in the past year. Shockingly, 655,000 individuals used a food bank for the first time. Families with children received 65 percent of the parcels, and the number of parcels going to pensioners significantly rose.
Emma Spring, Co-founder of BanktheFood, said: “We’re thrilled Stephen Fry has helped spread the news of the app that makes it easy to donate. With the rise in living costs, more families are relying on food banks - there has never been a more crucial time to ensure food banks are stocked with essential items. BanktheFood enables people to make targeted donations that meet specific needs. It’s about getting the right help to the right place quickly. We hope the 32 Seconds campaign will inspire thousands of new donors to get involved and support their local community.”