LICHFIELD FOODBANK – AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER

On behalf of Alrewas PCC, Lichfield Foodbank, and the many people who have benefited from everyone’s generosity, may I extend a huge thank you for your financial support of our Harvest Appeal. As a result of your gifts, the PCC was able to make a donation of £3,650 in the run up to Christmas to be converted into much needed food and other essentials.

My conversations with the Chair and Treasurer of the Foodbank when making the donation were very insightful in gaining a much better understanding of the level of need which continues to be met through the support provided in donations of both food and financial gifts.

In the latter part of last year, the Foodbank were needing to spend at least £500 per week to bridge the shortfall between the demand for help and the quantities of food being donated. In addition to packaged food, support is also provided in the form of a £10 voucher which can be exchanged for fresh fruit and vegetables at the Lichfield market, and for families with a child under 2 years old, a voucher that can be exchanged in Boots for nappies and milk formula. Donation such as ours are playing a key part in enabling these vouchers to be provided in addition to basic foodstuffs.

Over the last few years demand for help has increased exponentially with the Foodbank having needed to spend around £14,000 in 2019 – the year before the pandemic – and this annual spend figure having increased by more than five-fold in 2022. In the light of the continued cost of living crisis, of which we are all acutely aware, it seems certain that the level of need will continue to increase and the experience of our local foodbank is mirrored in foodbanks up and down the country.

Having gained a much fuller understanding of the extent of the need locally, the PCC decided to give away all of the money received in the offering plate at the various services on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. This enabled us to make a donation of a further £750.

In 2023 we anticipate that we will again run a harvest appeal but it also our desire to provide increased support – both food and cash – during the remainder of the year. Donations of food can continue to left in the boxes at the back of church or taken to the Vicarage, and cash donations – clearly marked ‘Foodbank’ – can be placed in the offering plate at any service; in the donations box just inside the main door to the church; or put through the letterbox at the Vicarage.

In addition to the above, at its January meeting the PCC agreed to run a second appeal throughout Lent which begins on Wednesday 22 February. During this period, we are asking for cash gifts that will form part of a donation to be made at Easter and which will include all of the offerings taken up at services during the Easter weekend.

Thank you once more for your support to date. This has made, and continues to make a huge difference to the lives of many families, and with your help we hope we can build upon this vitally important ministry and provide even more support during 2023.

Nick Kilford