- 111, Pickhurst Lane
- Hayes
- Bromley
- KENT
- BR2 7HU
NEWS FROM THE FOOD BANK
Account details (Co-op Bank):
Hayes Community Foodbank Kent; 08-92-99; 67307296.
I’m sure everyone is aware of the Foodbank donate crates at most of the supermarkets. But these are usually stationed near the exits so I suspect lots of us do our shopping, don’t always think to purchase something on our way round the store and then see the drop boxes as we leave.
But there is an alternative.
Some of the major supermarkets now have pre-prepared bags of food which are priced up ready to buy, usually on a stand near the entrance to the store. Morrisons has always been a good supporter of this initiative and other stores are now joining the scheme. Unfortunately it isn’t well advertised and folk don’t really understand what it’s all about.
The scheme works with the supermarkets putting together a couple of items that they know foodbanks need, ranging in price from about £1 to £5; the shopper pops a bag into their trolley and then continues with their shopping; at the checkout they pay for the bag and then put it into a crate marked Foodbanks; this container is regularly emptied by someone from TBB (Transforming Bromley Borough) and taken to a central store where it is then dispersed out to foodbanks.
Transforming Bromley Borough is a collec
tive that co-ordinates and supports all the foodbanks and food projects in the borough. Back in July TBB was approached by Morrisons in Petts Wood offering them the opportunity to have a team of people in their store to promote the bag scheme and to shake a bucket for funds.
Along with various other folk from our foodbank I went along and did a 2 hour slot explaining how the scheme worked and encouraging shoppers to buy a bag of food. It wasn’t an easy task, selling something isn’t my forte and the ‘excuses’ were interesting and creative!
But by the end of the week the number of bags purchased totalled about £1,050whereas in a normal week it would have been about £150, and we collected £711in the buckets so we made a massive difference.
Morrisons were so impressed with the volunteers and the positive response that they have offered TBB another slot in September. So I will be back there, trying to improve my selling technique or at least making people more aware of the scheme.
If you see pre-prepared bags of food marked Foodbank in your regular supermarket please think about adding one to your trolley and let’s hope the scheme rolls out to all the major stores very soon.
Teresa and the team
PS This is the time of year for garden fruit – it may not be a very plentiful harvest this year but any that you have spare would be much appreciated by the Food Bank – thank you