FOOD BANKS
What are FBs?
They’re places set up and run by volunteers in the local community – mainly from local churches – to provide EMERGENCY FOOD SUPPLIES for local people going through hard times. You’ve probably seen them on TV news reports, especially recently when the cost of living seems to have increased so much. They’ve been in existence a long time – at least 10+ years.
Who are FBs for?
They’re for anyone who’s in real need – anyone who hasn’t got enough money to buy food for themselves and their family. The food given out by my FB (at Penge), like most, is intended to be an EMERGENCY food parcel – not designed to meet long-term need – that’s why most FBs have links to other organisations like Citizens’ Advice (CAB) and Christians Against Poverty (CAP) who can offer additional support, helping the client to improve their current situation.
Where are our LOCAL FBs and who runs them?
Our nearest Foodbank is The Vine at New Addington. It’s in a building in Salcot Crescent and is run by the Salvation Army who also run FB in Central Croydon.
Purley Food Hub is based in Purley URC, set up and run by the churches in Purley and Kenley.
Penge Food Bank, (near Crystal Palace) is where I volunteer. It’s part of the national network of Trussell Trust FBs, and one of their four FBs in LB Bromley. We’re blessed with our location. We set up each Monday in the large hall at the back of the Salvation Army church in Penge. It’s great to have the support and wise advice of the SA staff there in difficult situations – they have such a wealth of experience and a real heart for supporting those in great need.
How do FBs work?
My FB (like most) works on a Referral system – we partner with dozens of Referral Agencies – schools, GPs, churches, Housing Associations, the Job Centre, etc. who provide vouchers for their clients, after discussion with them. The client then comes into the FB with their voucher code number to collect their food parcel. Our biggest partner in Bromley is CAB. As mentioned above, we aim to guide folk (‘clients’) to non-food support which might be helpful in improving their situation, so that they may soon be able to buy their own food again. CAB are a great help with arranging this support.
In my FB, clients actually come into the FB to collect their food (rather than having the food parcel delivered to them). Some find it really difficult walking in to a FB for the first time; they can feel embarrassed that they’re in this situation. But CRISIS can strike anyone. So we aim to welcome everyone who comes to the FB with compassion, and a listening ear.
Where do the FBs get their food from?
It’s all DONATED by local people! Either food itself or money donations. At this time of year, HARVEST, lots of schools and churches donate their collections to FBs. All items donated to SBC on Harvest Sunday will be taken to The Vine FB. At any time of the year YOU can take food direct to the foodbanks – you’ll need to check their websites to see when they’re open and which particular items of food and toiletries they really need. Or you can drop items into the COLLECTION BOXES in some supermarkets – Sainsbury’s in Selsdon, the big Sainsbury’s at Warlingham and Waitrose at Sanderstead. They each have lists of suggested items you can donate.
The Bromley FB has a link with the two Tesco superstores (Bromley and Orpington) who are very supportive. (On a couple of occasions each year we’re allowed to man the donations trolleys in those stores and encourage shoppers to donate items.) In my FB (1 of 4 in Bromley Borough) we have a FB warehouse. All donated food is taken there by donors (churches, schools, individuals), sorted and stored. Then each week specific supplies are driven (by volunteers) to each of the 4 FBs, according to what each FB has ordered. (None of our 4 Bromley FBs has much storage space.)
What’s in a food parcel?
The food parcels contain at least 3-days’ worth of nutritionally balanced meals for individuals and families. (At Penge, we give out 7-days’ worth if we have enough stock.) All the food is in packets or cans – it’s all longlife stuff, because we don’t have any storage facilities for fresh food and veg. (There are 25 different food items on the picking list.) We also offer a range of toiletries, cleaning products and baby requirements e.g. nappies, wipes, baby lotion etc. (There are 12 different non-food items on the list) The amount of food given to a client depends on the number of people in their household – and we go though picking lists with the clients so they can choose which items they need and we try to adapt the food parcel to meet dietary needs, for example, gluten free, halal or vegetarian.
A typical food parcel contains the following:
Breakfast cereals, milk, soup, pasta, pasta sauce, rice, tinned beans, tomatoes, vegetables, tinned meat and fish, tinned fruit, custard, rice pudding, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, biscuits, savoury snacks) – AND a range of cleaning things and toiletries – shower gel, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrush, loo rolls, nappies, washing detergent and washing up liquid. AND chocolate/sweets, if we have any! AND cat/dog food, if we have any.
A single person’s food parcel fills up a couple of heavy carrier bags. For a large family it’s more like 4 or 5 bags – and they’re REALLY heavy! (10 cans of soup, and 10 cans of beans, etc. is pretty heavy!) So we ask clients to bring a trolley, or even a suitcase on wheels to transport their food – sometimes they have their own car or a neighbour gives them a lift, which is great!
To finish with – Why do I volunteer at my FB each week?
This verse from a harvest hymn – sums it up:
In the help we give our neighbour, God’s will is done. In our worldwide task of caring For the hungry and despairing, In the harvest we are sharing, God’s will is done.
(It’s a privilege – and great fun! – being part of a team, doing something worthwhile!)
Gill White