Alnwick District Food Bank facing with increased demand brought on by lockdown

In the first half of April, 64 families in Alnwick and the surrounding area have been helped, receiving in total 146 food parcels made up of 280 individual carrier bags.

Demand is expected to increase further as the virus enforced lockdown continues.

The food bank, which has remained open since the start of the crisis, is now operating five days a week and working in harmony and close cooperation with both Alnwick Town Council’s Covid initiative and with local community transport provider, NEED.

The latter’s drivers are delivering direct to homes on the food bank’s behalf.

Working practices have changed somewhat but there is a dedicated team of volunteers, practising social distancing, collecting and accepting donations, as well as sorting and packing food parcels for distribution. This now includes some fresh produce.

Over the years the food bank has built up a strong relationship with numerous health professional and social service providers, including the Community Centre @NE66.

Food bank volunteers would like to thank them all for also acting as its eyes and ears and delivering to those identified as being in need of help.

Many individuals and other organisations have also helped the food bank rise to the challenge, including both Alnwick Round Table and Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.

Clive Gibson, chairman of Alnwick District Food Bank, said: “I would like to publicly thank not only our own band of volunteers but everyone who has stepped up to the mark, in very demanding times, to support those less fortunate in Alnwick and our surrounding area.

“As well as practical help in so many ways, I would also like to thank those who have donated financially, as it allows us to supplement supplies, helping us distribute, as best we can, varied and balanced food parcels.

“Having said that donations of food have been outstanding, and we are confident that, with ongoing public generosity, we will be able to meet demand.

“The focus of our activity is to help all in need. We have received heart warming thanks from many whom we have helped and I would like to assure anyone seeking our assistance that we are not intrusive and will respond sympathetically.”

Preferred contact is by email to [email protected]

If this is not possible, please text 07498 488797.

Alternatively [email protected] will also point you in the right direction.

It is important to know name, address, number of people in the household and ages of children if there are any.

Deliveries are twice weekly, every Tuesday and Thursday. Donation points in Alnwick’s stores and supermarkets remain open and are regularly emptied, and donations can also be delivered directly to the food bank’s base at Lindisfarne Adult Learning Centre, ideally on a Wednesday morning, no later than 10:30am. No out of date stock, please.

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