Fair Frome – Local Partnerships with Frome Small Businesses

LOCAL charity Fair Frome, which runs the local foodbank, furniture bank and other projects designed to help those in acute financial need, is normally associated with large supermarkets where customers can see their donation points for collecting food for the foodbank.

However, over the past year  the charity say they have also focussed on working with small local businesses to support them during the pandemic. In turn many local businesses are also now supporting Fair Frome with financial and practical support. 

A spokesperson for the charity reports, “During the pandemic Fair Frome  quickly realised that many people who needed to use the foodbank were shielding at home because of health issues. As a result, the charity introduced a takeaway offer- the delivery of free hot meals in conjunction with local takeaways Mikes Kitchen, Pizza Folk, Jays Kitchen and Kerens Comfort Kitchen – giving choice and a very welcome hot meal and an emotional boost to families. 

“The charity has also introduced a meat voucher scheme in conjunction with Cayfords Butchers, giving fresh quality products to foodbank users to top up the cold canned meat in food parcels and extended the Grocery voucher scheme with SK Fruits in the town. Fresh bread from Parsons Bakery and fresh dairy produce including eggs are also purchased for every Foodbank session. 

“Fair Frome has also been well supported by local producers and growers, whether it is a one-off donation or weekly supplies of free fresh produce like those supplied by Frome Food Hub and Vallis Veg (photos).  We are also pleased to have the support of Tibetan Memories for our clients to benefit from the Pay-it-Forward scheme to access a free hot meal.

“These supplies are also used in the Food at Five takeaway project which has continued to supply hot nutritious meals 3 days pw free of charge to people on benefits and low income. We work with local caterers Events Horizon, Lungi Babas, Ebbie’s Kitchen, Improve with Food and Marston foods who supply us with free desserts, with kind support also from Bistro Lotte.”

Bob Ashford chair of trustees said, “With the great support from our local community Fair Frome has worked tirelessly to ensure that those using our foodbank and other services get the best quality fresh food as well as the staples. We also recognised the emotional impact of Covid-19 very early on especially for those individuals and families who were shielding and wanted to provide them with a healthy and emotional boost of the kind many of us take for granted. 

“We have been able to achieve this thanks to all those people and organisations who regularly support us but especially in these instances thanks to those small local businesses who are so vital to our community who have stepped up at a time of great need.”

For more information about Fair Frome visit www.fairfrome.org  orhttps://en-gb.facebook.com/FairFrome or call us on 01373 488578.