Feeding Families is proud to announce a £40,000 grant from the Greggs Foundation, awarded over two years, to support our ongoing work tackling food insecurity and hardship across the North East.
The funding, £20,000 per year, will part-fund two vital frontline roles within our organisation: Ruth, our Volunteer and Partner Coordinator, and Chris, our Warehouse Manager. Together, these roles ensure that food and essential supplies are received, organised and distributed efficiently to the communities who need them most.
Working with 212 partner organisations across the region, Feeding Families delivers over 40,000 food boxes each year to individuals and families facing crisis. These boxes are distributed through trusted local partners who understand the needs within their communities, ensuring support reaches the right people at the right time.
This work is powered by volunteers from businesses, schools, colleges and local neighbourhoods who give their time to pack and prepare boxes, becoming part of a collective effort that extends far beyond our warehouse walls. It is practical support delivered with care and connection.
Wayne Dobson, CEO of Feeding Families, said:
“The fantastic grant support and partnership with Greggs Foundation is about far more than a grant. Yes, it’s £40,000 invested into the people who keep Feeding Families moving every single day. But it’s also surplus food collected from our local Greggs store so it’s shared, not thrown away. It’s making sure our volunteers don’t go hungry while they’re giving their time to help someone else. It’s Greggs colleagues turning up at Christmas, coming back in the summer, and collecting food for us at Greggs House.
For me, that’s what this is really about. Business and community standing shoulder to shoulder. Not just talking about change but actually doing something about it. Thank you to the Greggs Foundation team.”
This grant strengthens the infrastructure behind that impact – enabling us to continue responding quickly, building strong partnerships and ensuring surplus food is redistributed and not wasted.
Supporting Those at Critical Moments
Doorways Middlesbrough is one of the many organisations supported through our partnership network. The charity provides hot meals and practical support to people experiencing homelessness and hardship, many of whom are unable to access foodbank vouchers more than once every six months.
Through Feeding Families, Doorways receives rough sleeper packs, hygiene packs and essential food boxes, helping them respond flexibly to those seeking support.
Florence, Doorways recipient:
“I fled a domestic violence relationship and found myself homeless. It’s been the hardest experience and there were times I wanted to give up but with the support of Doorways and Feeding Families, I got better.”
Aimee, Manager at Doorways Middlesbrough said:
“Feeding Families have been amazing. They offer us rough sleeper packs and hygiene packs to help the homeless but also their essentials box which we use to make meals for those coming to get a hot dinner. It’s needed as people can only access the foodbanks vouchers once every 6 months.”
This kind of partnership ensures that individuals who fall outside traditional support systems still have access to food, dignity and care.
A Partnership That Goes Beyond Funding
The relationship between Feeding Families and Greggs Foundation extends well beyond financial support.
Through Wayne’s connection with his local Greggs store, we regularly receive surplus food, helping to reduce food waste while supporting our volunteers, staff and partner organisations. This consistent supply of fresh food helps create welcoming environments across community hubs and ensures good food reaches people rather than landfill.
Greggs colleagues have also given their time to support Feeding Families. Over the Christmas period, Greggs volunteers were part of the large-scale community effort that packed 6,300 festive food boxes, supporting 12,000 individuals and families across the North East during the holiday season.
In addition, food collections at Greggs House continue to strengthen supplies for our warehouse, directly benefiting the communities we serve.
Tracy Lynch, Greggs Foundation manager said:
"We are delighted to be supporting Feeding Families with a two-year grant from our Community Action Fund. Providing UK organisations with the funding to support charities as they tackle the challenges facing local communities is a key part of the Community Action Fund. Feeding Families is exactly the type of hands-on and effective organisation that perfectly matches the Greggs Foundation commitment to helping build stronger, healthier communities and we look forward to seeing the positive impact of this grant in the years ahead.”
Looking Ahead
At a time when demand for support remains high, this £40,000 grant provides stability and sustainability – strengthening the operational backbone of Feeding Families and ensuring we can continue working alongside our 212 partners to deliver essential support with dignity and compassion.
We are incredibly grateful to the Greggs Foundation, and the wider Greggs teams for their continued commitment to our work and to communities across the North East.
Together, we are reducing food waste, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that no one has to face crisis alone.