Local Stories: Food Bank in Cork

Four years ago, members of SVP in Cork decided to launch a new initiative: Cork’s first Food Bank. A special warehouse for storing food and packing hampers was setup in the Northpoint Business Park. That first Christmas, over 100 families were helped thanks to donors such as you.

But, despite talk of economic recovery, demand for the service has grown. Last Christmas, 2,500 hampers were packed and delivered to families. Now, thanks to the generosity of donors in Cork and beyond, the Food Bank is open every weekday. The team was even at work straight after the recent snowstorm in Cork, helping families who had run out of the basics.

On a recent visit, we spoke to warehouse worker Joe:

“At the moment we are preparing about 200 to 250 hampers each week. As well as the usual dry goods like pasta and rice, we give out eggs and frozen meat. Nappies, baby wipes and hygiene products are also in big demand. Almost everything we get donated is used, especially the food from the supermarkets that arrives in bulk.”

The Cork Food Bank is also supported by Bia Food Initiative, Foodcloud and the EU programme FEAD.