Whitchurch businesses raise £631 for local foodbank

Local business owners from Whitchurch have teamed up once again and raised £631 much needed cash to support Whitchurch Foodbank, an incredibly important cause in the town that’s seeing increased in demand yet a fall in food donations.

Food banks deliver critical services to their local communities and rely heavily on donations with many expecting a vast increase in the number of parcels they will be providing this winter.

Whitchurch Foodbank – under the The Trussell Trust charity – is part of a nationwide network of food banks that provide emergency food and support to people in need. The Trussell Trust work tirelessly campaigning for change to end the need for food banks in the UK.

Spurred on from last years fundraiser - in which they raised a similar amount - the four Whitchurch businesses Refill Your Boots, Homefolk, Moo and Boom and Lukes Café Wine Bar wanted to help again this year, and each donated a £30 Voucher from their respective businesses, totalling a grand prize of £120 vouchers to be raffled off.

With the cost of living on the rise, teamed with the increase in energy prices, more and more people across the country face destitution and being unable to afford the absolute essentials to eat, stay warm, dry and clean.

Maddie Ashbrook, owner of Moo and Boom says ‘With the increasing costs, the foodbanks have seen a huge increase in demand for their services. By giving Whitchurch foodbank the money we raised directly, they can buy the essential items they fall short on and ensure they can provide healthy and nutritious meals for the community’.

The Trussell Trust warns that the demand for emergency food is expected to increase further still and predicts they will be giving out 7,000 food parcels every day in December.

Maria MacNae, owner of Refill Your Boots said the group wanted to collaborate again by supporting the foodbank and do what they can to help.

She said: " With more people than ever living below the poverty line, the support offered by the foodbank is essential and especially at this time of the year. For the first time ever, food banks are giving out more food than is being donated This is an emergency.’

‘It's brilliant that us as independent business can work together to support a local charity and our community, and we couldn't have done it without the help from our lovely customers."

One customer was thrilled to hear the news that they’d won the £120 vouchers! Donna-Marie Williams, a local to Whitchurch and avid supporter of small independent business, received the news after it was announced at the Whitchurch Christmas Light Switch On in November.

Donna-Marie says ‘We moved to Whitchurch in the summer, and one of the main reasons was the lovely high street and all the independent shops, cafes and the great community feel about the place. We can walk into town and get everything we need and more. I was delighted to hear I’d won the vouchers and look forwarding to spending them. We’ve been doing our house up, and we’re nearly ready to start adding the finishing touches…so they’ll come in handy!’

Lucy Young, co-owner of Homefolk says ‘We’re so pleased for Donna-Marie, and what’s makes it extra special is that she regularly shops in town and is a familiar face to lots of us. We’re extremely thankful to everyone that supported our fundraising efforts, and we cannot thank the Whitchurch community enough…as it really was a community effort as customers, local schools, businesses and community groups all helped in promoting the raffle.’

Lukes Café Wine Bar owner Vikki Beazley comments ‘Also, a huge thank you to Sue from The Beauty Room in Malpas for donating the runner up prize of a Pedicure. This was won by Teresa Dawkes who lives locally too.’

Alan Scutt, project manager at the Whitchurch Foodbank, is thrilled to receive another donation this year.

He said: "Financial support helps us to purchase the essential and in demand items that we're short of, so we're extremely thankful for the donation and the effort the local businesses have gone to help raise it. It will help tremendously toward our Christmas emergency food parcels."