Bournemouth Foodbank recently welcomed some very important people to the new warehouse in Boscombe!
Students from St. James’ Church of England Primary Academy came to help pack food parcels and were joined by leaders and members of local churches. Even the Bishop of Southampton made a guest appearance!
The new warehouse and office are generously hosted by St George’s Methodist Church, a longstanding supporter of the Foodbank.
Suzie Viana, a deacon of the Poole Bay Methodist Circuit, said:
We gladly welcome Bournemouth Foodbank into our house!
All they do – from collecting donations to devising storage systems; from preparing the crates with food to delivering into the 6 hubs in town; from raising awareness of hunger and poverty in our doorsteps to mobilising community responses – all this is a practical response to the imperative of the Gospel!
As a partner-church, we hope to find more creative and helpful ways of building on the work they are doing, reaching into the lives of people, listening to their stories and addressing their needs.
The Rt Revd Dr Jonathan Frost, the Suffragan Bishop of Southampton, was kind enough to give his blessing in prayer and said the following:
While appreciating the neighbourliness of so many in supporting the food bank, I remain deeply troubled by food poverty in our increasingly divided society.
The hard truth is that in 21st century Britain some people, many of them children, are going hungry. I find this unacceptable.
Of course, the causation is complex. However, late benefit payments can be sorted and I urge people to write to their MPs to keep this practical issue in front of policy makers.
The event was also attended by a representative of Rt. Hon. Tobias Ellwood MP, Member of Parliament for Bournemouth East. When reached for comment, Mr Ellwood said:
I am delighted by the work carried out by Bournemouth Foodbank and their hardworking staff and volunteers in supporting local Bournemouth families. I believe it is vital to do everything possible to help people with the cost of living.
The reasons behind demands for emergency food assistance are complex and frequently overlapping, with people facing all manner of circumstances that have contributed to them needing to seek the support of foodbanks. This fact is recognised by the Government, and Ministers are working hard to ensure that the cost of living is more affordable for the families who are struggling to get by.
Foodbanks are a vital source of support for families in need, and I encourage people to donate and support their local foodbanks so that they can continue their vital and important work.
Last year Bournemouth Foodbank fed 6,012 people. This was an increase in demand of 23% on the year before.
To continue to support local people in crisis we need the help of local churches, schools, businesses and other community groups.
If you would like to find out more about how you can help, please visit our give help pages. Your involvement can make a massive difference!
