Foodbank aiming to feed ‘hidden hungry’

To offer support in the most severe cases, a foodbank will open from Green Pastures Church (GP) on Friday, April 19, giving three days of emergency food to people in crisis.

It will operate as part of a network of foodbanks under the Trussell Trust, a Christian Charity which aims, in partnership with churches across the UK, to establish a foodbank in every major town.

Co-ordinator of the Ballymena project, Trevor Dunlop, says: “The foodbank will give three days of emergency food to people in crisis by working with frontline care professionals to identify those in need.

“The food is given free and without discrimination in any way and no strings attached, other than it must not be sold on. All food given out is nutritionally balanced and donated by the public.”

It was also pointed out that most people who come to foodbanks for emergency food are not homeless but are families who have hit hard times, people who have been made redundant, become ill or are experiencing benefit delay: they are the UK’s ‘hidden hungry’.

Importantly, foodbanks also signpost clients in the direction of organisations and services able to help combat the longer term problem.

Trevor added: “Through Ballymena foodbank, Christians are leading the way in combating hidden hunger in their area, but there’s so much more to do.

“The Foodbank is currently made up of volunteers with no paid staff, although Green Pastures church have committed to supporting the foodbank by facilitating the services of Willie Elder, their Community Care Support Officer, to take up the role as Foodbank Manager to work alongside me.”

Although supported by Green Pastures, Foodbank is a community-wide project and not specific to any one church or organisation.

The organisers point out that its success will depend on churches, schools, food retailers etc. getting involved through donations of food, volunteering time or through financial donations.

Ballymena Foodbank urgently require the following items: milk (UHT or powdered), sugar (500g), fruit fuice (carton), soup, pasta sauces, tinned items such as sponge pudding/rice pudding/tomatoes/meat & fish/fruit, cereals, teabags/coffee, instant mash, jam, and biscuits.

These items can be donated at any of the existing collection centres: Ballymena Church of God (Frys Road) Tue & Wed 10am-1pm, St Patricks Church of Ireland (Castle St.) Wednesdays 9am-3pm and Green Pastures Church (Fenaghy Road) Mon-Fri 9am-5pm.

Ballymena Foodbank welcomes other groups, such as schools and workplaces, to get involved and become Collection Centres/Drop Off points so that it can facilitate as wide a catchment and community involvement as possible.

“Other things that we need as we embark on this extremely worthwhile project include: office equipment and consumables, warehouse equipment including racking and trolleys and printed media”, said Trevor.

Local MLA Robin Swann, who has offered his office as a collection point, praised the project as “a great example of true Biblical Christian passion and charity”.

He said: “The Green Pastures church, its leadership and membership, are to be highly commended for their true Biblically Christian community action project.

“The economic downturn has unfortunately placed many families in a poverty trap, but thanks to innovative projects like Green Pastures’ Foodbank, the plight of those in the poverty trap can be alleviated.”

Trevor said that frontline care professionals, who will distribute the vouchers to those they identify as being most in need, can find out more and get involved by telephoning 25650124, emailing [email protected] or by logging on to www.ballymena.foodbank.org.uk

“If anyone would like to get involved at any level or simply find out more about what Ballymena FoodBank is and how it works, then please get in touch”, he appealed.