AMONGST all the cheer Christmas can be a hard time for many, but Herefordshire has food banks and community larders open for those needing a meal.

There is a food bank or community larder in each of the county’s market towns and city.

These are places where people have donated food for those who need a helping hand.

Here’s a list of where to find them:

Hereford Food Bank

The food bank delivers weekly food parcels between Monday and Friday (normally within 24 hours of a request being received).

People can call 01432 607011 or email manager@herefordfoodbank.co.uk

Putson Baptist Church

The church can provide food parcels for residents living in the local South Wye community.

Call 01432 357700  or email pastor@putsonbaptistchurch.co.uk

St Martin's Food Share

St Martin’s Church provide a weekly food share programme in South Wye.

It delivers to Belmont Community Centre, Eastholme Avenue on Friday from 11.30am with food distributed at midday.

Food is delivered to Hunderton Scouts Hut, Blackmarston Road on Monday from 10.30am, with food distributed at 11am.

St Martin's Church and Hall, 89 Ross Road on Monday from 11.30am, with food distributed at midday.

There is also a Community Fridge at Saxon Hall, and people can help themselves anytime.

Call 07563 382872 to organise a delivery or for more information.

St Paul's C of E Primary School Food Bank

The food bank in Tupsley arranges for parents or members of the local community to collect food from the school food bank at a time that is convenient for them.

Email sbagley@st-pauls.hereford.sch.uk or call 01432 273784 to enquire confidentially.  

The Living Room

Food parcels are arranged Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm.

The Living Room run a community larder scheme for low-cost food, which has a suggested donation of £5.

For this people can choose 10 items plus lots of additional surplus items on top such as bread and any excess stock it has.

It is not means tested, so anyone can join and donations help with the costs of collecting food and running the larder.

Call 01432 381838 or email team@ethos.uk.com for more information.

Leominster Food Bank

Leominster Food Bank is open every Tuesday and Friday from 11am to 12pm at the Old Priory, which is behind Leominster Priory Church.

Email leominsterfoodbank@gmail.com or call 07715 410575.

Leominster Free Food Share

Leominster Food Bank run a free food share on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 2pm to 3pm at the Old Priory, behind Leominster Priory Church.

Everyone is welcome to access free supermarket surplus food such as bread, fruit, and vegetables. 

Details of how to get a food bank referral can be found on the Leominster Foodbank website.

Ross-on-Wye Community Larder

The community larder is open every Tuesday from 9am to 11am in St Mary’s Church hall.

Email crclarder@outlook.com for more information.

Bromyard Food Bank

Bromyard Food bank provides deliveries every Tuesday and Thursday morning.

Its email is bromyardfoodbank@gmail.com

Ledbury Food Bank

Ledbury Food Bank is open every Wednesday and Friday between 10am and 12pm and Thursday evening 6pm to 8pm, at Unit 1, Homend Trading Estate, which is next to the train station.

Email food@ledburyfoodbank.org or call 07581 283092 for more information.

Kington Food Bank

The Kington Food Bank is open every Friday between 2pm and 3pm at the Old Police Station on Market Hall Street.

Call 01544 231000 for more information.

Other help:

Age UK Hereford and Localities offers free confidential and impartial information and advice for older people, their families, and carers. 

As part of this service, it is also able to provide financial support for older people struggling to pay food bills.

Contact the charity by calling 0333 0066299 Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 2 pm, or by email contact@ageukhl.org.

Age UK also have offices in Bromyard, Hereford, Ledbury, and Leominster for face-to-face appointments.