CHARITY
Family Food Bank
BORN OUT OF CRISIS IN A TIME OF URGENT NEED , FAMILY FOOD BANK TELLS THE STORY OF A KENT COMMUNITY THAT CAME TOGETHER TO CREATE A LONG-LASTING RESOURCE OF SUPPORT , HOPE AND TOGETHERNESS WHEN LOCALS NEEDED IT MOST .
Today , Family Food Bank ( www . familyfoodbank . org ) provides support to families across Kent that are experiencing financial hardships . Due to these difficulties , the families in need of Family Food Bank ’ s help have been left either unable to buy food completely , or face the difficult choice of paying for food over other basic necessities , such as heating , rent , clothing and other essentials .
In the wake of the pandemic , increased energy prices and local redundancies , food charities like Family Food Bank have seen the need for their services and support dramatically increase . Today , not only has the need for the charitable provision of food increased , but the price of food has also increased with it too .
Through the support of the community and a great relationship with nationwide food bank charity FareShare ( www . fareshare . org . uk ) Family Food Bank can produce a ‘ Family Food Box ’ for about £ 8.50 . This will feed a family of four , two meals a day for five days , with each box weighing around 14kg . Family Food Bank also provide other boxes upon request , including baby boxes , homeless boxes and personal hygiene boxes amongst others . ‘ Our main aim is to combat child and food poverty ,’ says the charity , ‘ but we accept all ambient food donations and monetary donations however big or small . That £ 8.50 can make a massive difference to a family ’ s life .’
In Kent and Medway , it is estimated that 13.5 % of the working age population are on universal credit , a rough average for the country as a whole . ‘ It is important to remember ,’ says Family Food Bank , ‘ that a sudden drop in finances can happen to anyone for a number of reasons : redundancy , eviction , bereavement , a change in family circumstances , interrupted benefit payment . So it is crucial that people really consider this , not make quick judgements and help out if they can .’
Family Food Bank also encourage people facing financial hardship or who have had a change in personal circumstance , to contact them for help . ‘ People should never feel embarrassed or ashamed in reaching out and asking for help . Our food bank approach is very simple , you can access a voucher through our partner organisations or directly from a distribution centre , you then contact your nearest distribution centre ahead of turning up to ensure they have the right box in stock for your needs . Finally , you take your voucher to your nearest distribution centre and exchange it for your box .’
Working across Ashford , Dover , Folkestone , Hythe , Gravesend , Maidstone , Medway , Swale , and Thanet , Family Food Bank now help thousands of families in Kent , but they began in a way that was somewhat personal to the community of Sheerness . ‘ We set up in 2012 following the sudden closure of the Thamesteel Mill in Sheerness , this led to around 400 employees facing redundancy and financial
difficulty . With the help and support of the local community we were able to launch and establish the Family Food Bank at Seashells in Sheerness and since then we have expanded across the county to reach more families in need .’
It is also easy to help Family Food Bank . ‘ The biggest thing we need from you is your time ,’ they say . ‘ Our volunteers help us to collect and stow food , make food boxes , deliver food boxes and complete administration tasks . But we understand your time is precious , so this is flexible . If you have a spare hour , day , week , month or year we have a role for you !’
Other ways to help are through food donations which can be taken to your nearest distribution centre , fundraising through JustGiving , monetary donations , using Gift Aid and by joining www . easyfundraising . org . uk through which you can raise money for Family Food Bank when shopping online with companies such as Amazon .
To find out more about Family Food Bank , what they do and how to get involved , please visit their website , www . familyfoodbank . org on which you can also see food items they are short of . To volunteer or for more information on volunteering , phone : 01233 500477 or email : familyfoodbank @ children-families . org .
About FareShare Kent
FareShare Kent , operated in partnership with Children and Families , is part of the UK-wide FareShare network of charitable food redistributors , made up of 18 independent organisations . In 2020 / 21 FareShare Kent saved over 1,203 tonnes of good surplus food from right across the food supply chain and redistributed it to 230 charities and community groups . These charities provide meals as part of their services to people in need – such as children ’ s breakfast clubs , day clubs for older people , domestic violence refuges , homeless shelters , and drug and alcohol rehab units . In 2020 / 21 FareShare Kent provided enough food for over 2,864,286 meals .
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