Emergency: 07749 322 291
Email: help@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk
December is always a busy month for Exmouth Food Bank and this one was no exception. Our loyal supporters including churches, schools, clubs, businesses and generous individuals rallied and enabled us to distribute 390 parcels that fed over 990 people. This is an 8% increase in demand when compared to December 2022.
Looking back over 2023 we have provided food for 8,195 people (broadly in line with the support we provided in 2022) and distributed 4,513 parcels. Sadly, the fall in the use of food banks that was predicted as the country emerged from COVID has not been realised. Increasingly we see individuals and families who are in work but who, due to the current cost of living, struggle to put food on the table, particularly by week three of the month.
As well as managing a surge in demand in December, Exmouth Food Bank volunteers together with representatives from the community, packed and distributed over 350 hampers to those in need of a few festive extras. Recipients included clients of the Food Bank as well as individuals and families identified by local churches and partner agencies such as Open Door.
The festive season certainly ignited a great deal of creativity amongst our supporters! There were sponsored quizzes and cake sales, pop-up Exmouth Food Bank collection points and reverse Advent calendar events. The picture to the right shows a wonderful window display that Suzie and her partner from Estuary Cottage in Lympstone created as part of Lympstone’s Living Advent Window. The display promoted the work of the Food Bank and encouraged donations of food. You are all AMAZING – thank you!
We are anticipating that the increase in demand for our services will continue during the next quarter and now need to focus on replenishing our core stock.
We would really appreciate donations of the following items: longlife milk, breakfast cereals, tinned soups, baked beans, tinned spaghetti, tins of vegetables, tins of meat and fish, jars of pasta sauce, packets of rice, custard, rice pudding and tins of fruit.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our donors and supporters for their time, encouragement and sponsorship during 2023. The Food Bank would not function without the financial contributions and food so generously donated by the community of Exmouth and its surrounding area. Long may this continue in 2024.
In addition we would also like to say a big THANK YOU to our team of 40 intrepid volunteers who, come rain or shine, shift and date stock, pack and deliver food parcels and liaise with referring agencies and clients. Your hard work, good humour and resilience are simply awesome.
