As the Eat Out to Help Out scheme happens across the country next week, spare a thought for local foodbanks in West Midlands. A 90-second read.

People have experienced varying levels of hardship and distress, both emotionally and financially, since the Covid-19 outbreak began.

Someone summed it up wonderfully when they said: “We are all in the same storm, but some of us are in different boats.”

Every aspect of our lives has been touched in some way by the lockdown and foodbanks are reporting a shortage in donations as people’s minds are understandably elsewhere.

August is traditionally a slow month for donations to foodbanks, which tend to receive a flurry of items in the run-up to Christmas.

Covid-19 has exacerbated this seasonal issue because a lot more people have sadly fallen on tough times, increasing demand at a time when donations decline.

But the good news, is that we can all do something to help.

How you can help

Some of the essential, everyday goods that are most popular with foodbanks are:

Tinned soup.

Tinned fruit.

Tinned vegetables.

Pasta, rice, and sauces.

Cereals.

Long-life products.

Tea, coffee, cordial, and biscuits.

Even the smallest donations add up when people pull together to help their neighbours and their community.

Many foodbank websites have regularly updated sections asking for specific items if they are running low. So, it’s worth visiting their sites and seeing what is most needed.

Certain products should ideally be avoided, including dairy, dented tins, perishable items like fresh fruit, and homemade cooking or baking.

And it’s not just donations of food that are welcomed. Many foodbanks need financial support to keep their operation running. So, another way of helping could be to make a monetary donation.

At Bayzos, we feel fortunate that we can support our local foodbanks in any way we can, including publicising the excellent work they do and saluting their amazing volunteers who make it all happen.

Thanks for reading.

The Bayzos Team.