A food bank is a place where donated food is distributed to those in need or an emergency. Many people in Dorset have been hit by the economic downturn, local people are experiencing a crisis that is not their fault such as changes in benefit, debt problems, divorce, sickness, bereavement, redundancy, rising food and fuel prices, low wages all leading to a rise in people turning to a food bank. You need to be referred by a professional in order to be able to access vouchers for foods.