The Food Bank
We are happy to announce Food Bank Milton Keynes as our 2024 charity. About MK Food Bank:
Established in 2004, MK Food Bank originated at MK Christian Centre in Oldbrook as a direct response to growing food poverty in the area. Now supporting more than 5,000 families a year, we operate from our distribution centre in Kiln Farm, Milton Keynes MK11 3HB and distribute from 12 serving centres across Milton Keynes.
Our main service is emergency food parcels.
These are bags of long-life food that are designed to create meals for three days. Anyone can access these if they find themselves without enough money to buy food due to debt, family crisis or emergencies.
So far this year we’ve distributed 30% more than this time in 2022 and 80% more than this time two years ago.
This means more than 25,000 parcels have been picked packed and delivered.
We’ve opened a new centre in Greenleys which is getting busier and busier and are in discussions about another centre in central Bletchley.
Our second service is the Top-up Shop.
This is for people who need longer term support more frequently. Families can buy up to 20 items for £4 and access other types of support and advice as well.
We’ve now rolled out 7 top-up shops altogether – 5 off our mobile van which travels around the areas in the most need.
This year the shop has been visited over 7,000 times – that’s almost a 200% increase since last year.
Next year we are hoping to roll out three more mobile stops.
We have helped thousands of families and individuals in crisis. These include, to name just a few:
Bereaved families who have lost the main breadwinner and don’t know where to turn.
Working people on low incomes struggling suddenly with very high mortgages, rent increases and bills.
Parents and children fleeing domestic violence, who are often displaced miles away from home.
Families with disabled children or sick relatives who have to have the heating on round the clock, taking up all their money.