Stowmarket & area foodbank
by New Life (Suffolk)
£137,122.11
raised by 2933 donations
of £10,000.00 Target Goal
1371%
The Story
Stowmarket and area foodbank receives donations of both food and monetary gifts and is dependent on raising funds to sustain its activities. We use financial support to purchase extras such as baby milk, nappies, free from products & replace any stock we run out of.
New Life (Suffolk)
Stowmarket and area Foodbank is a charity which serves families and individuals in times of crisis.
It is heart breaking to hear some of the stories of the people who need help from the Foodbank. People need help for all sort of reasons, bereavements, family breakup, victim of crime, fire and flood damage, benefit sanctions and sickness, sometimes it could be something as simple as an unexpected bill like a boiler breaking down. Everyone who receives a food parcel is always so touched that local people are willing to help them and many give back to the foodbank once they are back on their feet.
Demand is continuing for food parcels with many families and individuals struggling with loss of jobs, financial crisis, school holidays and benefit cuts, but as the demand continues so does the generosity of the people of the area.
It is through this combined effort that the foodbank is able to respond to the ever-increasing urgent need for help. The foodbank works with over 45 referral agencies signposting people to the Foodbank who are in a time of need, covering all ages and all people groups ensuring that they meet genuine needs. Clients are given information and support by staff and with the additional services the foodbank offers we are able to provide both short term help and long term solutions.
With government funding cuts effecting the local family centres, Stowmarket and area foodbank and the services and support they provide is invaluable, an essential part of the lives of families in the area. There are no groups in the area that provide the range of sessions and specialised support on offer within the foodbank.
The foodbank receives many offers of help with people keen to volunteer. They have said they are happy to help as they know how desperate things can get when economic times are tough. The clients who receive the parcels are so blessed that someone cares for them and they are not forgotten. There are always several letters of thanks and phone calls each week from families and individuals, who are blown away by the generosity of others, the size and quality of the parcel and the speed of the service.
During the school holidays the Foodbank work alongside Sunshine and Acorns family centres to relieve pressure for families over the break from school, providing a free cooked lunch and activities 2 times a week throughout the holidays. The school holidays put a lot of pressure on families with no free school meals and along with the cost of new school uniform, many children are going hungry.
The Foodbank community lunch club runs once a month and is aimed at vulnerable and isolated adults in the community, it’s a great chance to enjoy company, a cooked meal and an opportunity for the volunteers to offer support and friendship. The foodbank provides transport as many of the people who attend are elderly and are unable to drive.
The foodbank employs a foodbank worker whose role is to oversee the work of our volunteers, collect donations, sort stock and deliver the parcels to the families and individuals. We deliver the parcels out rather than offering collection only as people with a low income often struggle to run a car or pay for transport to collect the parcel especially in rural areas.
The foodbank covers Stowmarket, Needham Market and surrounding villages.
Stowmarket & area foodbank: Photos
Stowmarket & area foodbank: Latest Donations