Clothe and Feed started out in life being inspired by an empty food collection point in a major supermarket in Newcastle. Surely there was a better, more convenient way to improve levels of donated food for Foodbank use?

There was. The idea that supermarkets could present shoppers with a priced basket of in-demand food ingredients to produce healthy meals.  These would be located upon arrival at the entrance to the store ready to pick up and purchase without the inconvenience of searching out items the food banks desired.

Well hats off to Morrisons, Cowgate! Their manager saw the merit in such an idea and trialled the pilot for a week.  To everyone’s surprise the pilot was an amazing success and sold £1,200 of baskets resulting in a bumper delivery to the local Foodbank.

Charged with the success, a visit was arranged to the local Foodbank which coincided with the day Shelter Newcastle were holding their Foodbank client helpdesk.  It was that meeting which revealed the urgent need to support young mums and vulnerable children in other complimentary ways such as baby equipment, clothes, toiletries, school uniforms and refurbished white goods.

Clothe and Feed now had a mission. It was to relieve clothing AND food poverty for vulnerable people and dependents in local communities .

Since March 2018, Clothe and Feed has facilitated the distribution of thousands of free items of baby equipment, clothing and toiletries . It has also operated a free pre worn school clothing hub and gives away hundreds of items a week to struggling parents.

The food basket concept has now being taken up by local stores in the convenience arena and several matched funded schemes now exist in the supermarket sector where the baskets just take up too much valuable retail space.

COST OF LIVING CRISIS

The cost of living increase since the Coronavirus outbreak has had a major impact on all of our lives, but particularly for young and old vulnerable people around the country, as well as the homeless and survivors of domestic violence.

Our children’s  programme support families living in severe financial, health and social difficulties, and provides items that meet children’s most basic needs.  Items covered include baby equipment, beds, kitchen appliances, clothing and any other items and services that are critical to children’s wellbeing.

We are also dedicated to relieving clothing , food and essential item poverty to homeless people with toiletries, food parcels, emergency sanitary products and shopping for disabled and people overcoming domestic abuse.

 

Please get in touch with Clothe and Feed if you are supporting a family who could benefit from our assistance in any way.  It’s why we do what we do!