Charity Day Update – FoodBank

Who they are

The Central Liverpool FoodBank in Wavertree is part of a national project by The Trussel Trust, providing emergency food and support for local people in crisis. The FoodBank receives donations of non-perishable food such as UHT milk, baked beans and tinned meat from companies, schools and supermarket shoppers. Care professionals identify those most at risk and give them food bank vouchers which are redeemed for 3 days emergency food. At the FoodBank, volunteers sit with clients over a cup of tea or coffee and a cake and help solve their longer term problems.

What we did

The team spent the afternoon at the FoodBank getting a better understanding of the role they play in the community for those at risk. The team helped in the stock room by bagging the food when clients brought their vouchers which are available from local service points such as the Citizens Advice Bureau. Depending on the number of people within a household, there is a set amount of items which the client receives including items such as vegetables, fish, cereal, sugar and soup. Clients are also able to enjoy a cup of tea or coffee and a home-made cake whilst waiting for their food to be bagged as well as chatting to the volunteers who offer support and a friendly ear to those people living in crisis, and the team were also able to take part and hear some really
challenging stories.

Overall, the day saw the team make a real impact in the community which the company is part of, as well as directly affected numerous people and families in need, as well as being a really humbling experience. The team made some good friends from the volunteers who give up their time to help those at risk, and learnt about the FoodBank so they could spread the word. The team are now in the process of setting up a FoodBank collection point in the office which will be transported weekly to the centre to help out as much as we can in this small way. Since 2004 over 190 FoodBanks have been set up nationwide. They fed 61,500 people in 2010/11 and will feed over 100,000 in 2011/12. Sadly, many more people are going hungry in towns with no foodbank, which is why we believe that every town should have one.

Get Involved

To find out more about the work of the FoodBank or to get involved, please visit The Trussel Trust website or to find your nearest FoodBank see this google map.