National Food Bank Day National Food Bank Day 2023 was the first time that the Little Flower Penny Dinners participated in National Food Bank Day, and it turned out to be a resounding success. This has now become an annual event that is held on the first Friday in September each year and we are very grateful to all the organisations and their staff that help us out. The primary objective of the Little Flower Penny Dinners National Food Bank Day is to raise funds for our operational costs and to gather non-perishable food items such as tinned foods, tea bags and more. These items are essential for meal packs we deliver to those in our community who need them the most. We also use much of the donated food to prepare warm meals that we serve every Monday to Friday at 12.00 in our building and to deliver to peoples' home as part of our meals on wheels programme - we deliver meals 365 days per year. Your support makes a difference. Join us in making this year’s National Food Bank Day even more impactful. Together, we can ensure that everyone in our community has access to the food and support they need. Get Involved Today When is National Food Bank Day taking place? It takes place on the first Friday of September each year. Which means that it will be on the 5th of September in 2025. Companies normally use this day as a kick off point and collect throughout September. Some even collect up until Christmas. The campaign is a great way for companies to team build and bring together their teams in a shared initiative. It is all about people giving to people. What is the National Food Bank Day? The National Food Bank Day is observed on the first Friday of September each year. It was established to raise awareness about the role food banks play in alleviating hunger and to encourage community involvement in the fight against food insecurity. On this day, people are encouraged to donate food, money, or volunteer their time to support local food charities and the critical services they provide to those in need. The day highlights the importance of ensuring that everyone has access to sufficient and nutritious food and promotes efforts to support and strengthen food banks across the country. What can I donate for National Food Bank Day? Non-Perishable Food Items This includes sealed products that tend to last for a longer period of time such as rice, oats, cereals, tinned foods, tea, coffee, pasta, etc. Monetary Donations Nearly 80% of all our funding comes from individuals and organisations and any monetary donations will help us cover the cost of perishable foods (dairy, meat, fish, fruit & veg, etc.), energy bills and operation costs. Volunteering After the National Food Bank Day is finished, we tend to have a lot of food items that need to be sorted in our premises. If your team would be interested in helping out with this, please let us know. How can our organisation take part in National Food Bank Day? There are endless ways that your organisation can support us for the National Food Bank Day. Here are some ideas that we have seen in the past: Set up a drop-off point for non-perishable foods in the office where staff and/or customers can leave any donations. Organise a bake sale in the office to raise funds. Coordinate a corporate run or walkathon during a lunch hour or after work. Sell raffle tickets in the office for a chance to win prizes. Online Fundraising Campaigns – send out a message via the intranet and encourage people to donate through an iDonate link. Trivia event or pub quiz where participants make a donation to enter. Company donation match – where the company will match the donations from staff up to a specific amount. Why should we donate to the Little Flower Penny Dinners? We are a food charity that has been feeding people in this part of Dublin since 1912 and close to 80% of all our funding comes from individuals and businesses. In the wake of the pandemic as the cost of living crisis started to take hold, we saw a surge in the number of people and families seeking assistance from our charity. The start of the school year in September typically places additional financial strain on parents as they need to purchase uniforms and essential school supplies. Furthermore, the impending colder weather in the second half of the year will likely increase utility bills, further challenging household finances. These circumstances underscore the enduring significance of Little Flower's services, as more people grapple with financial hardships. Need help to raise awarness? We can provide your organisation with the tools to make fundraising easier and to help raise awareness of the National Food Bank Day. Here are some of the things that we will provide you with: Printed posters & flyers (if requested) Digital posters, social media posts and a press release template. Collection buckets for the office, reception, counters, etc. We can share any types of images or content from your fundraiser on our social media channels. What type of food to donate? A common question that people sometimes ask is 'what type of food can I donate to a food bank? We accept all kinds of non-perishable foods such as: Pasta, rice, grains, oats, flour, cereal, muesli, granola, noodles, etc. Tinned or jarred fruit, beans, vegetables, tuna/fish, soup, tomato, meat etc. Biscuits, tea, coffee, rice cakes, sweets, crisps, juice/soda, etc. Ketchup, mayonnaise, curry sauces, jam, spices, salt/pepper, etc. Manage Cookie Preferences