During the last few years, as UK households have struggled with the cost of living crisis, the Loughborough Area Food Bank has worked incredibly hard to ensure that those in our local community don’t go hungry.
The charity started operating in 2018 and HA&W have been fundraising on the charity’s behalf since 2021. This year alone, we have raised £3,000, largely as a result of Alasdair’s gruelling Way of the Roses cycle challenge.
For those of you who missed the news, on Monday 1 July, Alasdair arrived in Bridlington on England’s east coast, having set off from the west-coast town of Morecambe just two days before.
Alasdair and his friend Mike covered 300 km and climbed over 3,200 metres in just two and a half days.
The Loughborough Area Food Bank continues to much-needed work.
The food bank is as busy as ever and currently gives out around 40 parcels each week. These feed between 50-100 people when all family members are accounted for. The charity’s workload will only increase as winter and then Christmas arrive, with some households in our community forced to choose between heat or food.
But it isn’t just food parcels that the charity provides. There is also the Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Centre, which helps people with budgeting and money management. There’s also a next-steps facilitator for those looking to get back into work, who can help with CVs and signposting needs.
The charity’s mental health coordinator, meanwhile, runs group therapy sessions and 1-2-1 counselling.
On Wednesdays and Fridays, there are coffee-morning foodbank sessions, so that those picking up parcels can stay for a hot drink and a chat. This social element can make a real difference to those who feel isolated.
There’s plenty more besides. The volunteer team do so much to help struggling families. And soon it will be time to organise the annual Christmas (it’s not far away!) meal for local homeless and food bank users.
Jamie from the foodbank team recently had this to say about HA&W’s support:
“I would like to say that we really appreciate you and your team’s efforts in fundraising for us.
“Many people donate food, which of course we are grateful for, but we also need help to pay heating bills, provide the tea, coffee, and biscuits for our sessions, and sundry other costs. So, once again, a big thank you to you all!”
And a big thank you from us!
Finally, a big thank you to you, from all of us at HA&W, for supporting Alasdair and the rest of the team on our various fundraising challenges.
Your support is greatly appreciated, and sadly, much needed. So remember, there’s still plenty of time to donate!
