bridging the
gap
Welcome to Glastonbury and Street Bridging the Gap. We are a local charity that provides food parcels and occasionally shelter packs to people facing a financial crisis to help bridge them through their difficult time. We were established by Churches Together in Glastonbury, a group of churches in the town. We distribute food throughout the BA6 and BA16 postcodes, only to those who have been referred by local agencies, including Social Services, care agencies and Citizens Advice.
On this site, you can find out more about how the service works, and ways in which you can get involved. For the latest news and updates about the foodbank, please visit our Facebook page.
The service is open to anyone living in BA6 or BA16 who needs it.
In order for us to provide you with food, you will need to be referred by an organisation or an individual that we recognise. For example, we accept referrals from Social Services, care agencies, Citizens Advice, schools, and GPs and other healthcare professionals.
Unlike many other foodbanks, Bridging the Gap is a delivery-only service, so you won't need to travel into to town to collect your food. We aim to deliver within 48 hours of receiving a referral.
Please support us with donations of non-perishable food.
In Glastonbury, you can bring your donations to any of the churches, or to our supermarket collection boxes in Morrisons and Earthfare. In Street, please bring your donations to our collection box in Lidl. Many of the churches in the wider coverage area of BA6 and BA16 will also take your donations, but please check with them first.
We have prepared lists of the goods that we welcome, and those that are in short supply, which you can find below. Please use them to help us balance our supply so that we in turn can provide a balanced food parcel. The lists are also available at our collection points.
If you wish to make a large food donation or hand over items collected by your organisation please contact us using the details below.
Cash donations are also welcome to defray the cost of fresh food purchased on the day the food parcels are delivered. If you are a UK taxpayer, you can boost the value of your cash donations by 25% by filling in a Foodbank Gift Aid form.
We rely on volunteers to keep the foodbank running. Could you help?
By volunteering at the foodbank, you will be helping us to provide a vital local service, and we hope you will find it interesting and rewarding work. If you are thinking about volunteering and would like to discuss what's involved, please get in touch.
We welcome enquiries from anyone who can help us with
Have a look at the volunteering roles you could help us with below. Which hat will you wear?
Delivery Driver Volunteers are contacted by phone on an agreed day with information about the recipient’s needs. They collect the pre-packed food parcels from the stores. They then do a fresh shop according to a designated list, and deliver to the recipient. The cost of the shopping is reimbursed upon submitting the receipt.
Requirements
This role is home-based. You will hold the dedicated Foodbank Phone on an agreed day or days when the foodbank is open, currently Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am – 5pm. You will receive referrals from accepted agencies and complete an information form. You then contact a Delivery Volunteer that has indicated availability and pass on the information for the recipient.
Requirements
Because we do not always get enough of the items donated that we need to provide nutritious food parcels, we often have to purchase tinned or packaged goods in bulk. Shopping Volunteers do large shops, once or twice a fortnight, according to a list given by the Storekeeper. The cost of the shopping is reimbursed upon submitting the receipt.
Requirements
We currently have donation bins in Lidl in Street, and Morrisons and Earthfare in Glastonbury. The Donation Collector will go to the shop, identify themselves to the staff and collect the donations. This is usually done once or twice a week, depending on the amount accumulated. They are then brought to the foodbank store, unloaded and sorted. We also occasionally have other donations (e.g. at Harvest) to be collected from schools or other venues.
Requirements
The Assistant Storekeeper is responsible for helping to keep the shelves in the foodbank storage area stocked, sorting donated goods, checking Best Before Dates and package condition, and rotating stock of donated food when needed. You would also refill the food parcels boxes as needed, and keep a list of items that are in short supply.
Requirements
To apply, please download and complete our volunteer application form.
Useful links to local resources and foodbank information
You can contact us:
Please note that we cannot accept requests for food from individuals in need, but only from the local referring agencies with whom we work.
Note for referring agencies
Please only make referrals by phone, using the number above. Referrals by email cannot be processed.