Harvest 2025 - You can make a difference to your community

BRAINTREEAREAFOODBANK MAKES URGENTCALL FOR SUPPORTTHIS HARVEST 

This Harvest we are calling on the community to support people facing hardship in their local community as need remains persistently high. With centres in Braintree, Witham, Halstead and Sible Hedingham, we are urging people in the Braintree District to support their local community this Harvest time, after the charity’s end of year stats report revealed that in the past 5 years, there’s been a 100% increase in the number of emergency food parcels needed by people in Braintree, with nearly 12,000 emergency food parcels being distributed in 2024/25 alone. 

Sarah Dynan, Community Outreach Officer at BraintreeArea Foodbank, says: "Any support from local people—whether it’s volunteering, donating food or money, or simply raising awareness - can make a huge difference for those who rely on the Foodbank." She continues: "This Harvest season, we're reaching out to our community to help us ease the burden of isolation faced by those experiencing hardship. No one should feel alone in their struggle." "For many of the individuals we support, coming to the foodbank may be one of the few social interactions they have all week. We've come to realise that we're not just offering food - we're offering a warm welcome and a sense of connection. With the community’s help this Harvest, we can continue tackling hunger and the desperate circumstances some people face." 

BraintreeArea Foodbank also offers a team of speakers available to share more about their work. They provide tailored resources for schools—from nursery through to secondary—as well as materials adapted to suit different groups or faiths. Over the last year, Foodbanks in the Trussell community have experienced record levels of need as more people struggle to afford the essentials and it is likely that this situation will only worsen this winter – so this Harvest is a particularly important time for local communities to support the foodbank. 

Locals are urged to help in many ways including: Donating non-perishable goods, such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and hygiene products. Financial contributions, which allow the charity to purchase essential items and maintain its operations efficiently. 

£5 helps the foodbank to keep running

£10 Supports a single adult with food, essentials & advice

£20 Helps keep our vans on the road, delivering food and collecting donations

Braintree Area Foodbank are thankful for all of your help during Harvest and the rest of the year.  Thank you