Next step for food bank
Food Bank charity talk to the Wisbech Food Bank committee. From left: Keith Aplin (chair), Ron Pritchard (treasurer), Carole McNamara (secretary) and Steve Bolton (Trussell Trust Area representative).
The steering group for the new Wisbech food bank has voted unanimously to join forces with a national organisation to make their plan a reality.
The Trussell Trust has 317 food banks under its umbrella and Wisbech looks set to make that number 318.
At a committee meeting on Wednesday evening, members heard from Steve Bolton, East regional development manager for the charity. Following the presentation it was decided Wisbech would join the Trussell Trust and take advantage of their expertise and training to get the food bank open as soon as possible.
Since the first public meeting in January, work has been going on behind the scenes with weekly committee meetings.
It is most likely the food will be distributed from Wisbech Baptist Church, in Hill Street, and work is ongoing to find a warehouse to store food. Talks have taken place with a local factory but the committee is waiting for confirmation.
Now the decision has been made to go with the Trussell Trust, the group needs to find the £1,500 needed to join up but are hopeful they can get charity funding from various places.
King’s Lynn and Grantham food banks have already offered donations of food to help the Wisbech food bank get up and running when it is ready to open.
A bank account is also being set up so members of the public can make donations to help bring the food bank into operation and cover operating costs.
The food bank will be there to help people in crisis on a one-off basis. People will need to be referred and will receive a voucher entitling them and their family to food for three days. They can be referred up to three times by authorised organisations, such as doctors, schools and social services.
It is not intended as a long-term solution and the food bank will signpost clients to other services, such as debt advice, so sort out underlying issues.
• A second public meeting has been arranged for Wednesday, April 10, at 7pm in the Salvation Army, John Thompson Road, Wisbech. This is for anyone who is interested in working with the food bank, whether it be through volunteering, donating or organisations that wish to be voucher holders.
For questions or contributions for the food bank project contact Keith Aplin on 01945-461938 or 07446-354501 or email keiapl@sky.com
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Weather for Wisbech
Sunday 19 May 2013
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