Support your local Foodbank

Plymouth City Council is encouraging local people to support their Foodbank.

Plymouth Foodbank in Manor Street, Stonehouse, is part of the Trussell Trust network of Foodbanks, and aims to help people with much needed food and also a listening ear and useful advice. They rely on people’s donations and regular food collections are obtained from local community groups, businesses and schools, as well as collections from customers at supermarkets.

Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Cooperatives, Housing and Community Safety, is presenting a cheque to Plymouth Foodbank for £318.82.

Councillor Penberthy said: “The foodbank serves all of Plymouth and provides an invaluable local service, and as the local ward councillor I fully support their work.

“Ultimately, I wish we did not need to have a foodbank, but I am really pleased to have been able to give some of my community grant to help the foodbank, which helps some of the most vulnerable people in our city.

“A lot of people have been hit by things like welfare reforms, rising cost of living, low wages.

“I would encourage other people in Plymouth to support the foodbank by donating money and also non-perishable food.”

Councillor Penberthy has given the funds from his community grant. Each Plymouth Councillor has an annual grant allocation of £3,500 to fund community activities and projects in their wards. Councillors can combine their grants to fund one or more projects or various community activities, if they wish. Community grant scheme funds and Living Street funds can also be combined.

Eunice Halliday, Project Coordinator for Plymouth Foodbank, said: “We are always very grateful for everyone who supports us.

“We also have a great partnership with Plymouth City Council, who refer people to us and although it is sad that we have to have a food bank at all, we are helping people at the point of need – anyone could need to use the food bank one day.”

Those who use the food banks come from all walks of life but include the following:

People whose businesses have failed
People who have found work but are waiting for their first monthly pay packet
People who are on zero hours contracts.
Young people who are sofa surfing

To contact the Foodbank call 01752 254981 or for more information visit their website here: http://www.plymouthfoodbank.co.uk