July 2011 - Brentwood FoodBank, by Cheralyn Lewis

Why is it that many of us only think to donate food on Harvest Festival time when there are individuals suffering and in need, not on a yearly basis, but a daily basis?

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. This issue is just as prominent in Brentwood as other parts of the UK. Brentwood Foodbank provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis.

Hunger is not just a third world problem!

Today people across the UK will struggle to feed themselves and their families. Redundancy, illness, benefit delay, domestic violence, debt, family breakdown and paying for heating during winter are just some of the reasons why people go hungry. Last year the UK Foodbank network fed over 60,000 people.

Foodbank clients bring their voucher to a Foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a cup of tea or free hot meal and are able to signpost people to agencies able to solve the longer-term problem.

Some foodbanks also run a rural delivery service, which takes emergency foodboxes to clients living in rural areas who cannot afford to get to a Foodbank. This is not the case in Brentwood yet as the facilities and volunteers are in short supply, this is something they aspire to for the future.

The Brentwood Foodbank Team have been working tirelessly to provide this service in our local area. They have the same demands as all of us on a daily basis and still find the time to give to those in need. They truly are an inspiration!

Anyone who is interested in getting involved should contact them as any form of help would be greatly appreciated I am sure, they are at the early stages as they only launched officially in February and there is still a great deal to do, particularly with promotion to users and donors. The work they do means that those in our local area who need help receive the support they should have and the provisions that many of us take for granted.

Well done Brentwood Foodbank Team….!