The effects of the coronavirus lockdown continue to be seen at the Foodbank. People who in normal circumstances would not expect to visit a foodbank who for example work in the building or restaurant trade have received parcels this week. A number expressed surprise that the food was of a better quality than they expected and that they were given fresh food items as well as tinned goods.
The Foodbank continues to receive generous donations of food. The recently opened collection point outside of St. Oswald’s vicarage in Oswestry has proved popular with individual givers. The major supermarkets (Morrisons, Tesco and Sainsbury’s) have also been generous and B&M donated over £700 worth of food, toiletries and cleaning materials.
Gifts of food etc. do not always perfectly match the needs of any week’s clients and so there is a need to store items for later use and retrieve items previously in storage but now needed. The Foodbank is fortunate to have volunteers who can manage these logistics.
One good consequence of the times that we currently live in is that disparate organisations are learning to cut through red tape and communicate better. Many of the Foodbank’s clients have needs that go beyond food and drink. Multi-agency working ensures that the truly vulnerable can receive the support they need- this is ‘more than food’ -it is checking on the well being of individuals and families. The Foodbank was pleased to be part of this type of collaboration this week.
Normally in a bank holiday week, the Foodbank would have to move its Monday opening to another day. However, in the special circumstances of VE Day, the bank holiday is on a Friday. That means that the delivery from Tesco in Liverpool (transported by British Gas) has to be moved to next week. Volunteers will, therefore, have to cope with two large deliveries (one tonne of food items) in one week!