You know you’ve been very busy when someone says, “Is that the time already?” And today, that person was me. It was pretty well full-on from the moment we opened and by the time I left I felt I deserved every penny of what I am being paid! Just kidding. We all do it for nothing but by closing time I, like Captain Sensible, was glad it was all over.
Once again, I was amazed at the generosity of so many people who drop-off big bags of food and other provisions for people who have nothing. We had plenty of those people today. A simple thank you is all we can offer and it seems to be more than enough. Anyway, like us volunteers, they don’t want thank yous: they just want to help.
My job today was to find out what people wanted, a relatively straightforward job. I jot it all down on a simple form and take it into the store room where three brilliant colleagues work absolutely flat-out to pack the bags and bring them to our clients. Because we had so many visitors today, the waiting times were longer than usual, but what can you do?
The little tables at which we sit have various snacks on for people to enjoy while they are waiting. We can also get them a hot or cold drink and, incredibly generously, the weekly café lets us have all their unsold goodies when they finish. In addition, we also had a selection of woolly hats and gloves to give away. They were gratefully snapped up.
We’re based in a church which is let out to all sorts of things during the week. As well as the foodbank, the church opens one day a week as a ‘warm place’ where people can come and stay warm in order to stay warm if they haven’t got any heating or if they want to save on their fuel bills at home. In the same building, we have a café staffed by volunteers where payment is only if you can afford it, a food bank and a warm place. What a savage indictment that is on the priorities of our country.
Well done to everyone who has done something to alleviate food poverty this Christmas. Trust me, it makes a difference. If you have the time, energy and money, try to do it from time to time all year. No one wants to see people starve at Christmas but by January many are starving again.
I’ve heard about a new type of food bank today, the food pantry. The odious Penny Mordaunt MP has announced three new ones in her Portsmouth North constituency in a barrage of social media publicity. A food what? Well, it’s like a food bank only you pay a set fee – say £3.50 – for say £20 worth of goods. So basically a food bank not for those who have nothing, but a pantry for those who have next to nothing. Once again, praise to the volunteers -I’m assuming it’s volunteer run – but it’s another way of covering up the rise in food poverty. David Cameron’s Big Society unchained. Thanks, Dave.
