One person supported every four minutes

Aberdeen Cyrenians Food Appeal

Get involved in our emergency food appeal running from 18th September to 21st December

Donate, host a collection, volunteer or help us spread the word!

Food appeal

For the last three months, we’ve been supporting someone in crisis every 4 minutes. That’s over 1,000 people a month needing food, toiletries, and other basic items. The cost of living continues to impact so many people across the north-east, we need your help so that no one struggles alone.

How can I help?

You can help people in hunger in a number of different ways:

“Benefits don’t go very far, without Aberdeen Cyrenians I wouldn’t have had the basics that I needed but couldn’t afford. I’m so grateful for what they’ve done. I felt safe and comfortable knowing they were there – it’s been lifesaving! Thank you!”

Get Started Today

What donations are needed?

Donate

Whilst food is our top priority, other essentials such as hygiene items are also needed by people throughout the year, and especially during the colder months when bills go up.

Priority items: tinned meat, fruit, vegetables, beans and desserts, sauces for pasta, jams, tea, coffee, sugar, hot chocolate and cereal.

Donations can be dropped off at our new warehouse in Torry:

Unit 6, Crombie Road
Aberdeen
AB11 9QQ

https://g.co/kgs/3jbjEDD

Please book a slot to help us manage donations and ensure someone is available to take delivery. If we’re unable to meet you, we will send you a code for our donation deposit box where ambient goods can be safely left.

If you’re not able to drop off, one of the easiest ways to donate is to use our Amazon Wishlist so your donation will get sent directly to us.

How do I set up a collection point?

Collection point

You can download our Collection Resource Pack to get started. All you need is a couple of strong boxes and our posters from the pack. Pop it somewhere people will notice and can access, and fill out the form below to let us know. We’ll keep you updated about collections and drop off options.

You can encourage donations by sending out an email to staff to let them know what’s happening, emailing your customers, parents or congregations, and sharing your collection point on social media using #harvestagainsthunger and #weareac. Templates are also included in the pack to help make it as easy as possible.

How do I volunteer?

Volunteer

During appeals we have a lot of extra work to do: picking up collections, accepting donations, and organising donations to make sure it gets out to those that need support. If you want to get involved we’d love to hear from you: Sign up on our volunteering portal here

To arrange a team volunteering session for your company or group, you can find and book the date here. We can take a maximum of 6 people per half day.

How can I share information about the campaign?

Share

You can follow our social media pages, and like and share our posts to help others to hear about our campaign.

You can also share our campaign email to spread information about the campaign and ask your organisation to participate.

Harvest Collection Registration

Aberdeen Cyrenians collection point box sitting in a kitchen and filled with tinned goods

We’ve finished our collection, now what do we need to do?

Book your delivery

To donate your essentials collection, please book a timeslot to drop it off at our warehouse:

Unit 6, Crombie Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9QQ

*If you have a large number of items and need assistance, please get in touch at warehouse@weareac.org as we may be able to arrange to collect it from you.

Prepare your collection

Pack up your collection into bags and boxes. Once your collection has closed, complete the Donations Record Form which you can print from the Harvest Resource Pack and include it with your collection, or you can complete the form online.

 FAQs

  • No. Anyone can host a collection point, even if it’s for a group of friends or neighbours. You can also just make up your own Harvest package and drop it off.

  • If you don’t have space for physical items, you can create a virtual harvest using our Amazon wishlist.

    Just share the link in our download pack and encourage donations from there. That way all donations come straight to us.

    Alternatively, you can collect financial donations and either donate that to us, or create an online supermarket order that delivers straight to us. More details about how to do this are in the Collection Point Download resource pack.

  • Yes we can. Just send an email to fundraising@weareac.org with your address details and we’ll post it to you.

  • Our Collection Point Download resource pack contains lots of useful resources to send emails, letters, social media and intranet information to encourage donations. Giving people enough notice, and having a deadline both help to get donations in. You can even try incentives by creating competition between departments or classes etc. Or you could have a prize draw for everyone that contributes.

    But it is also important to remember that not everyone may be able to contribute so please don’t pressure people into it.