THE NEWTOWNARDS food bank is appealing for donations to cover the Christmas period.
The food bank is asking community groups and organisations to remember them in the run up to Christmas so they can provide food parcels to those in need.
Last year the food bank gave out over 400 food parcels over the festive period, which wouldn’t have been possible without the ‘amazing support’ of the local community.
Richard Porter, food bank manager, said they are aiming to fulfil a similar number of food parcels this year.
“We do need a lot of food to be able to give out what we expect to give out,” he said.
“We are asking if people are involved in a group or a club to contact me. We do need food products, preferably not just any food products but tailored to what we think we need the most.
“We hope to get a good collection in and hope to get it in within the first couple of weeks of December which is crucial so we’re able to put stuff into packs. It’s lovely to get stuff on Christmas Eve but it’s not the best time, so we have been trying to motivate people to get in early.”
Richard said the food bank needs items like, soft drinks, fancy biscuits, boxes of sweets, tubes of Pringles, which are easier to pack into the parcels, Christmas puddings, selection boxes, cranberry sauce and gravy granules.
“Those are the Christmas targeted items but we also need other items,” he said.
“Long life milk, jam is short at the moment, tomato and chicken soup, tinned meats, like cold meat then also ‘hot meats’ like those dinner-in-a-in ones… spaghetti bolognaise, chilli or stew.”
If someone is struggling and would like the support of the food bank, there are a number of ways to get help.
The food bank works with over 70 agencies within the Ards and North Down area, who are issued with food vouchers and able to give them out to people in need.
“We allow our agents to assess the person and issue a food voucher if they feel the need is there,” said Richard.
“Going to the agencies is the primary way to obtain a food voucher. If people need support they can contact their local MP, MLAs who can issue vouchers, we also work with Community Advice Ards and North Down and SVP. Those are ones that people can turn up to or phone if they need to.
“The other ways are through our social working teams, mental health teams and other healthcare professionals where they are really working with those agencies they can ask for food help through those agencies.
“There are a bunch of other independent ones such as Women’s Aid, Simon Community and the groups that are supportive to the overall wellbeing of people, they can also issue a voucher from the food bank. If someone is confused or needs help, they can get in touch with us directly and we can have a face to face with them or if appropriate we can issue a food voucher but that’s not our primary way of working.
“When they get in contact with us, we can see what other help they may need and signpost them for extra help.”
The food bank is doing a food lift in Tesco Castlebawn on November, 30 and December 1st and 2.
Richard said: “There will be volunteers down in Tesco on those dates with shopping lists for people to get one or more items to put into the trolley or give to us and we take them back up to the food bank.”
Richard is asking anyone who’d like to help to keep an eye on the food bank’s Facebook page which will have a list of items they are in need of.
The Thriving Life Church is also hoping to run a life skills course in February and are hoping to sign people up in the next month. Classes include essential skills, budgeting and well being.
If anyone would like to do a collection on behalf of the food bank or would like more information on the life skills classes, get in touch with Richard on 07902933297 or via email at info@newtownards.foodbank.org.uk.
