Welcome to the March 2016 Newsletter!
A
message from Rev Andrew Fordyce, Chair of Trustees.
Just
to let everyone know about the current position since Corinne left. Jeannette
remains our deputy manager and the trustees are very appreciative to her for
stepping up to manage the Foodbank.
The
situation is to be reviewed in March; meantime we are using this time as a
period of transition and consolidation so as to reflect on the needs of the
Foodbank.
Welcome
Two
new trustees have recently been appointed, Richard Priest who is Regional
Director Care and Support at Family Mosaic and Julie Rusiecki , who currently
volunteers on a Friday and has been involved with the Foodbank for many years.
Her husband has now become Trustee Secretary.
The Lent
Challenge
The ‘Challenge’ was very successful. Seventeen
people came to collect parcels from the Foodbank on the three open afternoons.
The visitors found out what the Foodbank was like, what it did and how clients
are helped and supported.
Feedback received in the visitor book or on the Lent Challenge comment
sheet.
·
‘It was helpful, informative, and
friendly. I did not feel inhibited; in fact I felt I could drop in any time’.
·
‘Massively
impressed by the work here, shocking that children have to be fed through
here’.
·
‘Great idea
for letting people know about the foodbank ..friendly welcome’
·
‘Very
positive experience - organised and compassionate’
·
‘Was made to
feel very welcome, not at all rushed. Finding the venue was a challenge so I
was flustered as I imagine a non challenge client might be so the warm welcome
& non judgemental attitude was great. Thanks for catering for me being a veggi’
·
‘Wonderful
staff , wonderful organisation’
·
‘Your
volunteers are fantastic, informed, and so interesting to talk to.
An
excerpt from My Week Without’ blog on
Word press .com.
‘The food is filling, comforting and comes with a message of
love, and hope. The chocolate gives a message of value, that life isn’t
just about basic necessities. So if I was hungry and suffering, I would
be really blessed by this parcel and everything it means.’
People have uploaded
pictures onto Facebook of the meals they prepared as well as recipes.
So …thank you
to the Revd Caroline Martin who talked through the initial idea with Jeannette,
Judi and volunteers for putting the parcels together and the volunteers who
stayed late or who made a special visit to the Foodbank to help make the first
‘Lent Challenge’ so successful.
Well done also
to Caroline for her interview on Colne Radio, she gave a very passionate
interview about the work of the Foodbank.
Many thanks to
the visitors from Wivenhoe, who joined in the ‘Challenge’, inspired by Pauline
Rendall’s recent talks.
Approximately
£451 has been raised by the Lent Challenge
On the Rev Richard Allen by
Rev Andrew Fordyce
‘One of the moving things I encounter is becoming aware of
peoples steady, quiet support for Colchester Foodbank. At the funeral of Rev
Richard Allen, many things were shared about what a gifted and generous man he
was.
Afterwards I was keen to share with Wendy, his wife, how
much I personally appreciated Richard’s support of Foodbank. As I mentioned at
the A.G.M in September, Richard came to me in our first year, grasped the
vision, and immediately said that he would act as Financial Guarantor. Our very
special thanks to Wendy, and the rest of the Allen family, who have donated a
large sum of money from the collection at Richards’s funeral.
Again, we are indebted to the Allen family and we remain in
awe of their consistent kindness and support. Thank you for all your support
and let’s give thanks for all those who often provide stunning but unsung
support. £946 was raised from donations
at the service.’
Jeremy Smith
Some volunteers may remember Jeremy Smith, a dedicated and
compassionate volunteer who died of cancer in December 2014. Jeremy’s wife
recently wrote to us saying how Jeremy really enjoyed his time at the Foodbank
and it was something he felt very strongly about. He was the kind of man that always looked out
for those less fortunate than himself.
She wanted us to know that his sons, Christopher (23), Matthew (21) and
Alexander (21) are running the Paris Marathon on the 3rd of April for the
Trussell Trust in memory of their Dad. The Trust have provided T-shirts etc and
have been quite involved but I wanted Colchester Foodbank to be aware as it is
really for them that the boys are doing it, in memory of the time their Dad
spent there and how much he enjoyed it. So far they have raised nearly
£3500.00.
‘With a little help from our friends’
Our local community continues to be generous:
Pauline Rendall has been busy giving talks to Wivenhoe folk,
Wivenhoe Labour Party gave a donation of £25,
they were very impressed by what she said and have asked her back again.
After another talk, Wivenhoe Women’s Group donated £45 Thank you, Pauline for
your informative talks.
Crossfit Gym has donated £25.
Long Brew Running Club has started collecting from their
club members.
David Morris from ‘Fun with Fitness’ has recently set up a
collection box at his gym studio.
Sophie, a primary school pupil, saved a month’s pocket money
and asked her mum to take her to the supermarket where she picked all the items
herself and brought them down to the Foodbank.
Young Supporters
We welcomed a party of primary aged Young Wardens from two
primary schools in Wivenhoe, to the Foodbank after closing time so that they
could understand how the Foodbank works. They asked some very good questions
and were interested in the work that goes on.
This month’s data
Food collected from supermarkets this month: Waitrose 355.2
kgs, Tesco Highwoods 536.1kgs, Tesco Hythe 305.3Kgs, ASDA 9kgs. and the Co-Op 3
weekly delivery
397.7 kgs. The Co-Op amount was down quite considerably,
this may be because they are only putting into the boxes what we are asking for
rather than the tins of coke and bottles of water that weigh more. A total of 1505.1kgs of donations were
received over last month.
This month we gave out 76 family parcels and 154 standard,
an increase of just 4 standard parcels compared to last month. However, family parcels have increased by 20
from last month. During February, we have fed 310 adults and 185 children,
totalling 495 people (54 more than last year) this represents 1485 meals.
We have an increasing number of Muslim clients visiting the
foodbank, and have asked for guidance from
‘Welcome Refugees’ organisation,
we have also contacted local international supermarkets that provide
halal tinned meat and hopefully, we shall soon be receiving a food donation.
Good news!
After last month’s announcement that ASDA were no longer
going to have a collection point we are delighted that they have revoked their
decision after protests by many Foodbanks, the press, as well as The Trussell
Trust. Collecting will commence at the start of April.
We are also delighted that Sainsbury’s at Tollgate and
Priory Walk, in the town centre will also be having donation points.
And finally…
Thank you, to all those involved in organising and attending
an enjoyable social evening at the end of February for volunteers with their
families.
Watch this space for a ‘Pasta Evening’ event coming soon!
