Food bank has given out 92k meals in eight years
More than 10,000 people have been helped out by staff at town’s operation
LEEK and District Foodbank has celebrated its eighth birthday.
During the last eight years, the foodbank, which operates from Leek Gateway Church, in West Street, has providing food for 10,283 people.
This includes 6,335 adults and 3,948 children. Figures show that 92,547 meals were provided. The total weight of food distributed over the eight years was 150,300kg, valued at £263,025.
During the past month, 124 people were helped with food, this included 76 adults and 48 children.
Project co-ordinator Ian Smith said: “Once again we give thanks for the food and financial donations we have received during the last month enabling us to supply food to those
in need and once again it has been a blessing that our volunteers have kept Covid-free, enabling us to meet all our opening commitments.
“The beginning of the month saw the eighth birthday of the food bank and over those eight years we have been able to help the local community by redeeming 4496 vouchers.
“Once again, the main reason for food bank use is low income followed by sickness. We had the pleasure of welcoming the new regional manager for Trussell Trust, Richard Schneider, for his first visit to Leek and District Foodbank and, at the end of the month, we sadly said goodbye to Tim Birch, assistant project co-ordinator, as he left for pastures new at Staffordshire University – and we wish him all the best in his new venture.
“We now have a vacancy to fill the role that Tim has vacated, so if you are interested please email coordinator@ leekdistrict.foodbank.org.uk and request an application form.
“A big thank you to all our donors, supporters and volunteers who have laboured constantly over these past eight years to achieve this and help the needy in our community.”
The food bank are currently in need of the following urgent items:
• Deodorant;
• UHT milk cartons;
• Tinned meat, eg chicken in
white sauce, stewed steak and
mince and onion;
• Tinned potatoes;
• Chocolate bars;
• Pasta in sauce;
• Pot Noodles;
• Savoury rice;
• Fruit squash;
• Ladies’ sanitary products;
• Tomato ketchup and brown
sauce;
• Shampoo and shaving foam and
razors.
They ask people to please not donate baby and infant milk powder. And the food bank has adequate stocks of baked beans, pasta and tomatoes.
If you are a donor, the food bank would like to thank you for your continuing support and remind people that they can still accept your donations at the foodbank on Tuesdays and Fridays between 10am and noon (please ring the bell and maintain social distancing).
Alternatively, you may use any of the permanent collection points which are still available at various locations listed on the website together with the latest urgent needs at leekdistrict.org.uk/ give-help/donate-food/.