Cardiff Foodbank is a part of the National Foodbank Network (currently 12 Foodbanks in Wales, 120 across the UK). It is a project to help and support those suffering financial hardship and who are facing the reality of being unable to feed themselves or their families. All food supplies are donated. Various professional agencies issue vouchers to clients who then exchange vouchers for 3-5 days of nutritionally balanced emergency food. Clients can collect food from any of the distribution centres across the City (one of which is here at Woodville Baptist Church – some of the others are at Ely Baptist Church, City Temple and at the Churches Together Shop, The Maelfa Shopping Centre, Llanedeyrn) where they find a safe place to chat over a hot drink and biscuits and receive signposting to a range of support services.
There are currently over 70 agencies that distribute vouchers across the city including Cardiff Council, Social Services, British Red Cross, Health Visitors, Flying Start, Salvation Army and many Housing Associations. New partner organisations are regularly signing up to the voucher referral scheme.
The Foodbank Distribution Centre at Woodville opened its doors on the 9th November 2010 is currently open every Tuesday from 1pm until 3pm and every Saturday from 11am until 1pm and is manned by up to 6 volunteers at any one time. Since opening we are feeding, on average, 10 people per session about a third of whom are children. Clients have come from a range of backgrounds – ex offenders, refuges, job loss, benefit cuts…
A client recently wrote:
“I should like to extend my heartfelt gratitude for the boxes you so kindly gave my family and myself this afternoon. Our cupboards are far fuller than they were this morning and there were items in the boxes that we felt were luxuries (not just the sweets for my daughter!)”. The daughter wrote: “Thank you soooooo much. i was sooo pleased when i came home from school and found these things. I am cooking pasta as we speak! You guys are the best .I know what I am having for breakfast in the morning! Thank you again. You guyz are amazing! Thank you!!!!”
If you would like to know more about this project or would like to volunteer then please get in touch.
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Comments or questions are welcome.