Preston choir launches food-donation concert to bolster city food banks

Community performance aims to meet holiday hunger head-on

A free evening concert in Preston later this month will double as a food drive, with organisers appealing for donations to bolster the city’s food banks during the school break. One Voice Community Choir will perform at The MET, located in the St Bernard’s Community Hub car park, at 7pm on Saturday 25 July.

Entry is being offered in exchange for a food donation valued at £7.50 rather than a ticket price, with all contributions to be distributed to support families across the city. Free seats should be reserved in advance via Eventbrite, and attendees are asked to bring their donations to the venue on the night.

How to help on the night

The choir has set out the types of items most needed by local providers, emphasising long-life foods that can be quickly sorted and shared with households in immediate need.

• Ambient, tinned and dried goods (e.g., tinned meat, fish and vegetables)
• Pasta, rice, cereals and sauces
• Other cupboard essentials with a good remaining shelf life

“School holidays always create stock challenges as families fill the gap in school lunch provision. Food banks need ambient, tinned and dried foods such as tinned meat, fish and vegetables, pasta, rice, cereals, sauces and other cupboard essentials with a good remaining shelf life. The food donated by the audience will be quickly distributed across local food banks to assist families in immediate need. Please give generously if you can.”

Who will benefit

Donations will be passed to a network of Preston food banks and community organisations that provide emergency support. Groups set to receive supplies include:

• Ashton Food Aid
• Kingdom of Life
• The Foxton Centre
• Farringdon Park Community Centre
• Recycling Lives
• Preston Promise
• Church of Ascension
• Renew Wellness Centre
• Metania Project
• Larches Lifeline

The event will also feature a performance by New Roots Choir, with organisers hoping the combined programme will draw a strong audience — and, crucially, a steady supply of staple foods to replenish stocks.

Why this matters for Preston

Local charities routinely report greater pressure on food supplies when schools close, as families shoulder the additional cost of providing lunches at home. By funnelling in-kind donations directly to multiple distribution points, the concert is designed to move supplies quickly from donors to households who need them. For attendees, the approach offers a straightforward way to contribute: pick up shelf-stable items while shopping, reserve a free seat, and bring the goods along.

While the city benefits from a diverse network of mutual aid groups and community hubs, organisers say predictable staples make the most immediate difference. Items that are ambient and easy to store can be sorted rapidly and shared according to need across different neighbourhoods.

Event details at a glance

For Preston residents able to give, the concert offers a practical route to support neighbours through the summer while enjoying a community performance. Organisers encourage early booking to ensure seating, and remind attendees to prioritise non-perishable goods with ample shelf life.