Category: Food Bank

Summer Economic Needs

Summer School Break

Summer is a great time for kids, no school, better weather, the chance to play outside all day with their friends. But as the school year comes to a close, it’s essential to remember that for many families, the end of classes also means the end of a reliable source of meals for their children.

During school time, many children may have a breakfast club at their school or receive free lunches, giving them nourishing food. However, when schools close for the summer, the responsibility falls on parents or guardians to provide meals, which can be difficult for those with limited financial resources.

At these times, it is helpful to contact your local food bank, Whitehead Storehouse. This covers Whitehead, Islandmagee and Ballycarry. Remember you can reach out and seek support from Whitehead Storehouse which is dedicated to helping families in food need, and committed to assisting families who may struggle to feed themselves or their children during the summer months.

This invaluable resource aims to bridge the gap and ensure that no child goes hungry during the break. By providing food aid and support, we can ease some of the financial burdens faced by families in difficult economic circumstances.

How to Access Support

If you find yourself in need of assistance getting food for your family during the summer, it’s important to know that help is just a request away. You can reach out to Whitehead Storehouse by various means, such as:

  • Phone: 0759 621 3763
  • Facebook page and messenger – Facebook search for Whitehead Storehouse
  • Email – whiteheadstorehouse@gmail.com

Maintaining Confidentiality and Dignity

It’s natural to feel hesitant or embarrassed when seeking help, but it’s important to remember that everyone faces challenges at some point in life. Whitehead Storehouse is committed to treating all requests with utmost confidentiality and respect. We understand the difficulties faced by families and aim to provide support without judgment, ensuring that you can access the assistance you need while maintaining your dignity.

Conclusion

No parent should have to worry about their children going hungry during the summer months. If you find yourself in a situation where providing meals becomes difficult due to financial constraints, Whitehead Storehouse is here to lend a helping hand. Reach out for support and rest assured that you will find a compassionate and understanding team ready to assist you. Together, we can ensure that your children have access to the nourishment they need to grow and thrive.

Donations To Whitehead Storehouse

Christmas 2022 Donations

We have been asked what donations can be made to the Storehouse, to help others out over Christmas. Here is a list of items that would be useful for the Storehouse to receive for Christmas deliveries, though these will be made on Thursday 16th December 2022.

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/

Image by Ria Sopala from Pixabay

Shloer, dilute juice and morning juice.

Jams, marmalade and peanut butter.

Tins of custard, rice and fruit.

Tins of pork, ham, corned beef and Fray Bentos pies.

Tins of potatoes, carrots and peas.

Christmas puddings, chocolate puddings, mince pies and shortbread.

Selection boxes and tubs of sweets.

Toilet rolls kitchen rolls washing up liquid, soap.

Vouchers for the local shops or supermarkets.

If you feel you would like to donate to Whitehead Storehouse, please leave your donations at Whitehead Spar, Whitehead Community Centre or any Whitehead Church.

All donations are gratefully received and are used to help those in economic difficulty in Whitehead, Ballycarry and Islandmagee.

New Year 2023

Even if you cannot donate in time for Christmas 2022, there will still be an ongoing need for help in 2023, so please feel free to make donations at a later date if you wish.

Thank you everyone, for all the help you have provided in 2022.

Thank You Islandmagee Primary School

Islandmagee Primary School held a harvest collection event and has donated the items brought in to Whitehead Storehouse to help those in economic difficulty this winter. Thank you very much for thinking of those who will not have very much and donating items that will help keep people fed during hard times.

Thank You Whitehead Congregational Church


Thank you very much to all those who contributed items at Whitehead Congregational Church’s recent Harvest Festival Service. These have been donated to Whitehead Storehouse to provide emergency food help to those in economic need in Whitehead, Ballycarry and Islandmagee. With the threat of a cold and difficult winter for all, these donations will help the most vulnerable in the local area.

Thank You St John’s Church of Ireland Islandmagee

Many thanks to those who donated items at St John’s Church of Ireland Harvest Festival Service for use by Whitehead Storehouse. Your gifts are gratefully received. It appears that the coming winter is going to be difficult for many people and your donations mean that Whitehead Storehouse will be able to provide emergency food help to those in need.

Thank You Presbyterian Church Islandmagee

Thank you very much to all the donors at the Islandmagee Presbyterian Church Harvest Festival Service, who gave food and other non-perishables and also donations of vouchers and cash to Whitehead Storehouse.


Whitehead Storehouse is really grateful for all the amazing support received this autumn, which will let us help those in need locally this winter, including Islandmagee, Whitehead and Ballycarry.

Thank You Ballycarry Primary School

Many thanks to the pupils, parents, carers and teachers at Ballycarry Primary School who donated non-perishable items to Whitehead Storehouse to help those in difficult circumstances. All these items are gratefully received and will be used to help people in need this winter in Ballycarry, Whitehead and Islandmagee with an emergency food parcel.

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/
Autumn is a time of harvest and gratitude for food to last through the coming winter until the new growth.
https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/
Whitehead Storehouse is very grateful to all those who donate to help them provide emergency help to local people in need.
https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/

Thank You Islandmagee Methodist Church

Islandmagee Methodist Church Harvest Festival Donations

A huge thank you to all those who donated at the Islandmagee Harvest Festival Service. The donations have been passed to Whitehead Storehouse, the independent food bank for Whitehead, Islandmagee and Ballycarry and will be kept safe, ready for emergency food supplies to be provided for those in need in the local area.

We all know that food costs have risen steeply in the last few months and that heating has become even more costly, with oil, gas and electricity prices rising sharply. For those already in difficult economic situations, the coming winter will be even harder, with some people facing thorny choices between heating and eating. Whitehead Storehouse is very grateful for all donations that will allow us to help those in short term crisis with emergency food packs that will help them over a difficult patch.

UPDATE

A very generous financial donation has also been made from the Harvest Collection by Islandmagee Methodist Church. Very gratefully received. Thank you very much.

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/

Thank You Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland in Whitehead and Islandmagee asked those at the annual Harvest Festival Services this year to donate non-perishable items to Whitehead Storehouse, providing a list of the most needed items. St Patrick’s Church held their Harvest Service on 2 October 2022. St John’s Islandmagee is to hold their service on 16th October.

Donations from St Patrick’s service have now been delivered to Whitehead Storehouse and will be stored there, ready for emergency food supplies to be provided for those in need in the local area.

As everyone has no doubt noticed, fuel supply costs (oil, gas, electricity) are increasing sharply. This is on top of steady increases in the cost of food and other items from the shops. More people may well be faced with “Heat or Eat” decisions this winter than last year and Whitehead Storehouse is extremely grateful to those who donated items that can be used to provide emergency food packs to local families facing a short term crisis, for whatever reason.

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/

Thank You Lighthouse Bistro

https://www.whiteheadstorehouse.com/

Lighthouse Bistro

Grateful thanks to The Lighthouse Bistro, Whitehead, its customers and to Erica Lutzman for organising a fundraiser on behalf of Whitehead Storehouse. Over £200 was raised in the short space of 3 hours, every penny of which will go to help economically deprived residents of the local area.

With the cost of living and the cost of heating rising for everyone, this is going to be a hard winter for many, who will struggle to stay warm or feed their children. It also means that donors may well be finding the economic situation harder, so we are extremely grateful to all those who donated and of course to the Lighthouse Bistro for organising the fundraiser.