Andover foodbank - Our chosen charity for May
Each month, we’ll be making a ￡1,000 donation to a charity nominated by one of the YFM team.
James Savage, Partner, explains why he supports Andover foodbank
Q????????????What is Andover foodbank?
The Andover foodbank was started in March 2006 to provide emergency food boxes to people in crisis in and around Andover, near where I live in Hampshire. It employs a part time foodbank manager and a warehouse supervisor and has more than 60 volunteers.
The foodbank is a community-based project using resources within the local community including from churches, schools, groups and companies across Andover, to support those in need.?It receives support from and works with more than 70 local charities and agencies.?
Q????????????How have you been involved and why have you chosen to support the charity?
Needless to say, the foodbank meets the most basic of human needs and this sort of charity will obviously require more help in the current cost of living crisis, combined with the consequences of the pandemic over the last two years. Already, it’s estimated that one in five people live below the poverty line and this is likely to worsen in such difficult economic conditions.
As a charity that is local to our family home, we have been supporting Andover foodbank through my children’s school with parents regularly making donations of food and the pupils doing other things to help such as putting together Christmas gift boxes.
The charity has made a real difference to people throughout the area: in 2020/2021, it distributed enough food to feed almost 7,000 people including nearly 2,000 children.
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Q????????????What will YFM’s donation be used for?
YFM’s donation will be used to source food for the charity’s much-needed food boxes which are distributed throughout the Test Valley.
“After an extremely busy year with people being hit by the ongoing consequences of the pandemic, alongside increased costs of living and the cut in Universal Credit, the foodbank is needed more than ever. In addition to providing our standard food boxes, we also provided festive hampers and children’s gift boxes, as well as issuing market vouchers to enable clients to access fresh fruit, veg, bread and cheese to go alongside their emergency food boxes. All of this activity is possible due to the generosity of the local community and companies like YFM, with some tough times likely ahead, we are very grateful for this support.”
?Jenny LeLean, Manager of Andover Foodbank
More about Andover foodbank
We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That’s why we provide three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to us in crisis.
As we begin to see the longer-term economic impact of the pandemic, we want to build upon our partnerships to strengthen the network of support within our area. Inflation and higher food prices are predicted - so we are already prepared for another busy year providing support for those in crisis. We want to work towards a future where foodbanks are no longer needed so we will also be developing our work alongside our partners and the wider community to ensure that the right support is accessible and available to all those who need it.
Andover foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
This is fantastic! Thank you.