Food Share
Founded in 2012, Rochdale foodbank is a project founded by local churches and community groups, working together towards stopping hunger in our local area.
The Foodbank Trustees don’t think anyone in the community should have to face going hungry. That’s why they provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. The Foodbank are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Several members of the Rotary Club of Rochdale help sort and box donations of food, and then serve clients of the Foodbank. Two of our members are Trustees of the Rochdale Foodbank.
If you would like to find out more about the services of Rochdale Foodbank and either how you could help or donate to them, or indeed how they could help you, then visit their website here.
Starting with two ladies providing a few cups of soup outside Rochdale Town Hall on Saturday nights, the organisation now feeds over 300 people every week from its base just up the road from the town hall.
In 2022, the Soup Kitchen was awarded the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. They said at the time:
"Our heartfelt thanks go out to so many people who have shared this journey with us. Especially to our volunteers who give freely of their time and at their own cost.
To say that it is an honour would be to understate it massively. It is a tribute to the volunteers dedication and commitment and without them the Soup Kitchen would not be able to continue with this vital service. We sincerely thank you all."
More details can be found on their Facebook page here.
The Lighthouse Foodshare is based in Whitworth and caters for people within a 4 mile radius. This surprisingly includes places as far apart as Walsden, Littleborough, Kirkholt, Bacup and the Rossendale Valley.
It provides a vital lifeline to the community. More details can be found on their Facebook page here.