Dear Friends
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of the foodbank and therefore, and more importantly, your support of others within our local community who are in need of help with putting food “on the table”. So many of those who receive this support are truly appreciative – it is an absolute lifeline for some at times and only this last week one local mum explained, through her tears, that she had not eaten for a couple of days as there had only been enough food for her son, and she was so pleased and so grateful that she could have something to eat again as well. That’s a real difference your donations are making to just one of the households you have supported through this work in the last few days – Thank you. It comes as a bit of a shock that there are people in such a situation nowadays. We support the efforts of the Trussell Trust who are working to help bring about those changes in society which could mean that such situations become a thing of the past – but that won’t happen overnight and your continued support is much apprecaited.
However, for the first time in almost exactly five years, this foodbank has actually seen a reduction in the number of people supported on a year-on-year comparison. It is only small drop – a four percent reduction when comparing the last 12 months (to end of May 2021) to the 12 months to the end of May 2020. Is this a trend that will continue – only the next few months will tell; it is worth mentioning that a year ago the comparable figure was an increase of 24%. Donations, on a rolling year-on-year comparison, have continued to increase so it is understandable that stocks continue to be good; as always the list of “wanted” items reflects those things which are, nonetheless, in shortest supply within our stock as we continue to manage the balance between supply and demand.
Dover Foodbank is about to take the bold step of employing, for the very first time, two members of staff – a Project Manager and a Warehouse Co-ordinator. The foodbank and its trustees are taking this step to see the foodbank into the next stage of its work and development, but it is important to realise that the work will continue to rely heavily upon the dedication of a significant group of volunteers as well. The job of Project Manager is currently advertised on Indeed, and applications are welcomed from any who feel that this is might be a role for them; if you are interested then this link ( https://uk.indeed.com/job/project-manager-435fbce0c54e9425 ) should take you to the advert – if it’s for you then we look forward to hearing from you. The job of Warehouse Co-ordinator will be advertised on Indeed next week.
As always, thank you all for your support for those in need, it is very much appreciated, and, as mentioned above, stocks continue to hold up well – thanks to the amazing generosity of you and others within our local community. Do please feel free to circulate / forward / share / distribute the contents of this e-mail. And don’t forget – if you have any questions you want answered, please send me an e-mail about it and I will try to answer in the next week or so.
With kindest regards and every best wish – keep safe and keep well.
Jonathan and the Dover Foodbank team
Milk – UHT
Fruit juice
Biscuits
Sponge puddings
Potatoes – tinned
Marmalade
Vegetarian items – tinned
Cup Soups
Soap – bars
Tea bags – small packs
We currently have plenty of Pasta and Rice