Fair Frome thanks local groups for food bank support

TRUSTEES, staff and volunteers at the Fair Frome food bank in Frome have thanked organisations for their support as a further rise in demand is forecast over the next few months.

Based at Frome Town Hall, the community food bank has been established for over five years and has normally managed to keep up with supplies. However, they have been working flat out in recent times and have seen an unprecedented increase of almost three times the normal demand since the outbreak of Covid-19. 

Bob Ashford, chair of trustees  said, “Frome is a very supportive community and we have had cash and food donations from individuals, businesses and other charities and organisations.

“The past few months have been exhausting but rewarding. The pandemic and lockdown came upon us all so quickly. We were determined to keep services running as long as we could, as we could see the huge additional needs that were arising as people were furloughed and temporary contracts and zero hours contracts ended.

“We have worked closely with our partners in schools, charities, businesses and statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure a joined-up approach, which has been successful.

“None of this would have been possible without the support of all our volunteers and those individuals and organisations who have donated food and funds to not only keep our projects going, but also find new ways to support the large amount of additional need. Thank you Frome!”

Local businesses and organisations, including housing association LiveWest, have stepped in to financially support Fair Frome to help their local community, in addition to donations from local supermarkets and stores who have encouraged their customers to purchase and donate items to the charity via their collection points. 

Bob added, “LiveWest have been very generous and donated £1,000 to us.

“We have been working with Livewest and its residents, many of whom have been worst hit financially. Many of them have health issues as well, which has meant they have had to self-isolate.

“The additional support from LiveWest has meant we have been able to reach out and provide support that would not have been available otherwise.”

Gia Hancock, tenancy sustainment manager for LiveWest said, “We’re fighting as a nation against coronavirus, and we were delighted to allocate some funding towards the Fair Frome food bank as they regularly support some of our residents and play a key role in the community

“The welfare of our customers is our absolute priority and this has gone some way to ensure the most vulnerable are able to access food and other essentials.

“This will add to the fantastic work that is already going on out there, as people do brilliant things to support their communities.”

LiveWest report, “In pledging the cash, LiveWest is keen to bolster groups and organisations already rallying to provide support to the most vulnerable people in society.

“A total amount of £22,200 funding has been awarded to 27 food banks across the southwest, in places where LiveWest has the highest number of its properties.

“The cash boost is just one of the measures introduced by LiveWest, which supports its residents in a number of ways. These include providing financial, employment and budgeting advice, support for prospective LiveWest customers who are homeless or in temporary accommodation and help and guidance for older or more vulnerable people.”

Fair Frome report the following recent facts: 

• Since the beginning of March, Fair Frome has been on the frontline and kept their doors open every day including Bank holidays and has:-

• Given out more than 404 food parcels to 912 referred people – 3 times the amount during the same period last year

• Given out large amounts of additional food parcels and food to local schools to supplement families on free school meals.

• Distributed craft activity packs, sports equipment, games, books and school equipment to referred families

• Given over 500 vouchers to referred families for SK Fruits Fruit and Veg shop in the town.

• Collected over 17,000kgs of food donated by individuals, organisations and businesses

• Supported families on income-related Free School Meals by giving supermarket store vouchers to schools to distribute to 750 children

• Given out over £5,000 worth of goods to referred individuals and families including; white goods, reconditioned laptops for school pupils, bikes, shoes, clothes, emergency repairs, essential items of furniture and other household items.

• Started a Food at Five Takeaway service to provide hot meals for people on benefits and low incomes including street homeless.

• Supported local traders by purchasing fresh produce from local stores

• Recruited and trained an almost entirely new group of volunteers

• Chaired joint online meetings with charities, schools, and other statutory and voluntary groups to coordinate local responses to the pandemic.

Promoted and delivered sunflower lanyards, which are recognised by supermarkets and other businesses to let people know the wearer has hidden disabilities and might need extra help or prioritising in queues etc.