Volunteers say donations helped 600 at food bank

Volunteers say donations helped 600 at food bank

11 January 2017

FOUNTAIN Food Bank in Downpatrick say they are “overwhelmed” by the generosity of local people which allowed them to help over 600 people last month.

In the run-up to Christmas the food bank appealed for donations to meet the demand for 100 extra parcels for needy local families.

In the end 192 parcels were made up for 627 people — almost half of which were children. 

In December last year 134 parcels were distributed, showing increasing demand, but also a greater awareness of the scheme, organisers believe. Just over half of the parcels this year were pre-ordered by local charities.

Fountain Food Bank volunteer co-ordinator Shirley Lennon thanked all the local businesses, schools and anonymous donors that gave generously.

“One particular donation caught our attention,” she said. “A mother took time to visit the food bank to see how it operated. Instead of having an advent calendar this year, she was encouraging her children to use the money to buy a food item and set it aside each day for the food bank.

“We were delighted to receive two large boxes of food as a result and hear that the family intends to visit us again to see exactly how their donations make a difference to local families. These children were learning the importance of investing in other people.

“Charlene Molloy, from Ardglass, having seen our photo on the front page of the Down Recorder, also organised a collection and raised several hundred pounds for the Foodbank.

“There has been an amazing response since the front page article.  It shows the power of the press in action. It raised our profile and led to a new permanent collection point in the Credit Union, Downpatrick.”

Shirley said she had also heard of people who had used a food bank in the past making a donation on this occasion.

“It is great to hear that their situation has improved and that they want to help others,” she said. “A generous community has created a generous food bank. The food bank is just sharing out what we have been given.”

Thanking all their volunteers, including team leaders Dominic Breen, Anne Millar and Robert Shields, Shirley said: “Christmas is a busy time for many and we particularly appreciate the volunteers who spent extra hours working in the Foodbank. The investment of the volunteers who meet the clients is in time but also in the emotional energy it takes in dealing with often vulnerable people. 

“They are great at putting people at ease, as it can be a difficult thing to ask for help from a food bank. They take time to find out about the circumstances that have led to the need of the food bank’s help and try to offer further advice and support. Many also make donations of food on a regular basis.”

The Fountain Food Bank is located in Downpatrick Presbyterian Church, and for Shirley faith is the motivation behind caring for their community.

“I believe that God wants people in the community to find His compassion rather than His judgement,” she said.

“I want to help others, not with a hidden agenda but with a desire to share my experience of a God who is forgiving. I believe that God can use this work to bring further hope and possibility into the lives of others. All of us make mistakes and anyone could end up needing a food bank.”

Dominic Breen, Team Leader, said the Fountain Food Bank represented the best type of community initiative.

“It only works because it is the community’s bank,” he said. “When it looked like the bank might run short of resources the community has always come to its support. Empty shelves were filled up as quickly as they were emptied.

“Some donors prefer to give a financial donation. These enable the 

food bank to purchase items that are in short supply or are not often donated. This takes time and effort in organising and buying but volunteers willingly give their time to make sure the shelves are ready for the people who are in need. 

“In fact empty shelves has been a rare event because the local community has been amazingly generous. Every contribution has made a difference to someone and have always been timely. 

Nothing is insignificant. I have found it especially significant when children in their homes and schools decide to share their food from home because they want to show love to children absolutely like themselves. 

“The bank is about sharing our food but has been a symbol of our local community’s strength and generosity.”

He added: “We are Fountain Food Bank — but we are not about making big profits. We are about investing in the community and in its people.”

Another local food bank working hard over the Christmas period was Kilmore and Inch Foodbank, run by the local parish churches.

Co-ordinator Barbara Wilson said : “On December 14 and 21 we handed out 54 hampers in total. This is almost double what we distributed last year.

“Our clients are from across the spectrum; elderly, mentally ill, single parents and many on low incomes due to ill health and loss of employment.

“Many of our clients have small children and we also provide help to a range of jobs and professions. We have received support from local schools, supermarkets, local churches and our own church parishioners.”