Good afternoon!
You may have seen all the publicity about foodbanks recently. Many Churches are already getting involved – maybe yours too - by organising foodbanks, by providing distribution points for parcels, by encouraging volunteers to pack or distribute parcels or by collecting food.
Together Lancashire has been working to support foodbanks across the county; it is clear that the need is going to grow – a tsunami of need is being spoken of. For example, in Burnley, 17 parcels per week were being provided in February – now it's gone up to 95 per week. Other areas are experiencing a similar increase in demand. Changes next year to the welfare system will have an even more significant impact. It is also clear that the need is now being felt by those who have not felt it before, for example, families who have experienced benefit changes, become unemployed or have had their hours reduced.
Most foodbanks have clear processes in place to ensure that those in need are properly supported, rather than just getting a hand out. As a follow up to this email, as soon as possible, we shall let you have information for your local area regarding your local foodbank details and the referral process. We are further working up an information sheet for clergy (if this does not already exist in your local area) – as we expect that by April there will be more people approaching clergy for help.
Together Lancashire was established earlier this year by the Diocese in partnership with the Lancashire Methodist Circuit and Church Urban Fund to help churches to understand and respond to the effects of poverty in the Diocese. We are therefore trying to encourage churches to support local foodbanks by collecting donations of food suggested on the attached shopping list. We would appreciate your help (particularly if you are not already involved) by putting up the attached posters. It would be good if any food collected be put in a box in church and if you let me know, arrangements will be put in place to get them to the nearest foodbank/collection depot.
We have attached a couple of posters – one to put foodbanks in context, the other is a shopping list of items which would be welcomed.
If you have any queries, please do contact me or my colleague Greg Smith. It would be good in any event to hear whether you are participating and whether you have or support a foodbank. If you do not know your nearest foodbank, again contact me and I'll find out for you.
Thanks and best wishes
Gillian
Greg Smith Development Co-ordinator Together Lancashire / Preston Christian Action Network 34 Broadgate, Preston PR1 8DU Phone no. 01772 827987 Mobile 07726 177044
Gillian Beeley
Development Co-ordinator (East Lancashire)
Tel: 07904 919413
TOGETHER LANCASHIRE
Registered Charity Number 1147848
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