DROITWICH Foodbank will open its doors tomorrow (Thursday) to help those across the district who are facing poverty and cannot afford to eat.
It is being run by Churches Together in Droitwich (CTiD) and the Trussell Trust and will be the first of its kind in the town.
In order to open, two tonnes of food had to be collected but, as this project has done since it was first mooted, more than 2.5 tonnes have been donated by kind-hearted residents, schools, churches, businesses and from supermarket collection days.
Among the items being collected are tea, coffee, UHT or powdered milk, rice, pasta, fruit juice, tinned food and biscuits.
Each food parcel has three days worth of food in them and nutritionalist guidelines are used to ensure the recipient gets the most benefit.
Packages come in four different sizes – one suitable for a single person, one for a couple and two for families – one for those with three or four people in them and another for those with five or six.
People need to be referred from one of the following to get a parcel – doctors, health visitors, family centres, the Citizens Advice Bureau, Age UK, schools, social housing providers, pastoral leaders and social or support workers. They will give those deemed eligible a voucher which can be exchanged for a parcel during the opening sessions – from 12midday to 2pm on Mondays and between 2pm and 4pm on Thursdays.
But, if people are in crisis outside of those times, they can get emergency food packs from other points, including the Salvation Army and the Citizens Advice Bureau. And the Salvation Army is available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week.
Dignatries, including Wychavon District Council chairman, Coun Lynne Duffy, and Worcestershire County Council chairman, Coun Pam Davey, attended a special launch event on Monday (July 7).
That featured a presentation about how the service would work.
Coun Davey said: “I think they have done remarkably well to get organised this quickly.
“There has been a great deal of support from local people and I wish it every success.”
Foodbank volunteer Jane Wilson said it had taken a long time and everyone was looking forward to seeing it up-and-running.
“We have been overwhelmed by the number of volunteers and by the amount of food that has been donated.
“Lots of companies have offered to be drop-off points,” she said.
She thanked all the other agencies involved in the project, which include Droitwich Spa Town Council, Droitwich Spa Area Partnership, the Cinnamon Network, Wychavon District Council and Festival Housing.
Jane added that it was not just about giving people food who needed it – the Foodbank will also offer its users help and support and be on hand to signpost them to other services they need, which they may not be aware of.
She also added help and support was required for the Foodbank on a regular basis – whether it be setting up collection points, donating items, organising fund-raisers or making a financial donation.
And she said those shopping at Waitrose this month could also help the Foodbank as it was one of the charities that could be in line for a cash grant. All customers have to do is use the green tokens the supermarket gives to its customers as they leave to vote for the cause.
For more on the Droitwich Foodbank, visit www.droitwichspa.foodbank.org.uk or send a message to [email protected] for more information.
There is also a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/droitwichspafoodbank
The Salvation Army can be contacted on 01905 794179 or 01905 773748.
Wychavon District Council chairman, Coun Lynne Duffy, Droitwich Foodbank volunteer David Allcock and Coun Pam Davey, the chairman of Worcestershire County Council. Pictures by Tristan Harris.
