Donate to Your Local Foodbank

The school holidays have once again highlighted the importance of local Foodbanks. With reports that many children will go hungry during the holidays due to the lack of free school meals, appeals are being made to the public to donate before the Christmas period to help families in need.

During the six weeks summer holidays the Foodbank ran a ‘Holiday Meals’ project giving out food parcels each week to families with children that receive free school meals. Over 100 local children were fed through the project this year alone. With the season of good will upon us, the Foodbanks are once again appealing to the public to donate generously. There will be a big food drive at Tesco Extra in Talbot Green over three days: November 29th, 30th and 1st December where representatives from the local Foodbank will be present in store and appealing to customers to add a few extra items to their shopping list to donate to families in need.

Lol Delbridge from Taff Ely Foodbank said:

1. “Many of your readers will remember previous collections and this is always a time when the generosity and compassion of local people comes to the forefront and the Foodbank receives much needed food that we are extremely grateful for.”

During December, the local Foodbanks will be making up Christmas hampers containing basic foods and Christmas treats that will be distributed by local agencies.

Local Foodbanks all over Rhondda Cynon Taff make sure that no-one in our local community has to go hungry by providing three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in a crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.

Taff Ely Foodbank, previously known as Pontyclun Foodbank, was started by Bethel Baptist Church, Pontyclun in November 2009. As other centres were opened locally in Church Village, Gilfach Goch, Llanharan & Thomastown the foodbank was renamed Taff Ely Foodbank. The foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in our local area.

How can you help?

Donate Money: Taff Ely Foodbank, previously known as Pontyclun Foodbank, was started by Bethel Baptist Church, Pontyclun in November 2009. As other centres were opened locally in Church Village, Gilfach Goch, Llanharan & Thomastown the foodbank was renamed Taff Ely Foodbank. The foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in our local area.

Donate Food: Over 90% of the food distributed by foodbanks in The Trussell Trust network is donated by the public — that’s why your food donations are absolutely vital to our ability to give everyone referred to us a balanced and nutritious three-day supply of food. If you are happy to drop off food donations, please see the table below for food collection point locations.

Local foodbank opening times:

Church Village, Main Road, Pontypridd CF38 1RL Wednesday 2–3pm

Bethel Baptist Church, Heol Miskin, Pontyclun CF72 9AJ Thursday 12:20–2:30pm

Bethania Hill, Thomastown, Tonyrefail CF39 8AL Wednesday 12:30–1:30pm

The Rock Church, Hight St, Gilfach Goch Saturday 10am–12pm

Local food donation points:

Tesco Extra, Green Park, Talbot Green CF72 8RB Front of store near exits

Old Lloyd’s Bank premises, Talbot Green Every day 10:30am–12pm

Bethel Baptist Church, Pontyclun Monday to Friday 9:30am–12:30pm

Waitrose, Cowbridge 8am–8pm

Urgently needed food items:

Tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned vegetables (especially carrots), packets of rice (500g), tinned fruit, UTH milk, juice, toiletries & christmas goodies.

Everyone that comes to the Foodbank for emergency food needs to have a valid foodbank voucher. For details on how to apply for a voucher please visit this website.