Black Country Foodbank new
Hello Everyone
A lot of you won’t see Wendy’s ‘blog’ normally, so I thought I’d let you in on the secret…..she posted this on Friday.
They say ‘there’s nothing new under the sun’ but watching the faces of our volunteers this morning has been painful.
S has just come in for an extra shift at The Storehouse with TWO shopping lists, not for herself or for stock at the distribution centre she runs, but for TWO teenagers who presented, separately, at BCFB yesterday.
One, 16yrs old, still in school uniform, trying to sit for GCSEs, has been made homeless. He’s got nothing! No change of underwear, no bedding, no food – 16yrs old!
The other one is a wheelchair user and again has NOTHING. S is up on the mezzanine gathering together clothing, bedding etc; she got them both fed yesterday and issued toiletries.
They’ve been found accommodation by a housing association; well done…BUT what is happening to us as a society?
Last time I sat and ‘blogged’ I penned the thought about the day I’ll be able to say we’re not needed anymore, that day just seems so much further off this morning.
D’you know if our volunteers weren’t moved to tears, as they were today, I’d be worried.
Our volunteers are amazing; they selflessly give & give again without asking for anything in return.
Our communities around the region are fantastic; we let you know what’s needed and YOU send/bring it into The Storehouse, Thank You!
It’s now late afternoon, I’ve been trying to write this since 10:00am but the ‘phone keeps ringing and the emails just keep coming in with requests for our help.
Try this one (this afternoon): 2 Adults, 2 Children + 3Young Adults in a relatively affluent area of the Black Country and the children’s school has contacted us…..the family haven’t got any food and their benefits have been cut. On top of that one of the young adults is very pregnant and has nothing for the impending arrival of a precious life.
Can we help? Of course, what would you do?
Just gone 3:00pm and the ‘phone’s just rung again, this time it’s a Children’s Centre worker looking for help for a family of six but it’s ok because the volunteers have said they’ll stay later and wait for the worker to arrive so that they’ll know the family have at least been fed.
That’s thirteen (13) people fed just this afternoon from the Storehouse, let alone all the others who’ve been fed via our distribution centres around the region.
What do you think?
The Storehouse have asked me to let you know the items that have lower stock levels, so here goes….
Tinned TOMATOES (these can be used to extend meals)
COOKING SAUCES (Bolognese, curry, pasta, chilli etc.)
FRUIT JUICE UHT
Tinned FRUIT
Tinned RICE PUDDING
NOODLES ( the cheap ones, about 10p/pack)
Tinned POTATOES
Mashed POTATOES
READY MEALS
(Stew, Ravioli, Bolognese, Curry, Chilli, Beans/Sausages etc. & Macaroni Cheese, Cauli. Cheese etc.) – WE HAVE 4 TINS LEFT ON THE SHELF!
& MEAT (Minced Beef & Onions, Stewed Steak, Corned Beef, Ham, Hot Dogs etc.) Please can we have an extra push this week? You are all brilliant but let’s make an even bigger difference if we can?
from the desk of Ruth Longville
Funding/Admin Co-ordinator
Black Country Foodbank
“for such a time as this ………”
