Wakefield Cathedral has launched a Giving Campaign for Pancake Day and is inviting schools, churches and local businesses to join them in trying to alleviate food poverty across the Wakefield District.
The Cathedral already supports the Wakefield Rent Deposit Scheme helping single people out of homelessness, so knows first hand that many people are struggling to feed themselves and their families.
Foodbanks across the district – including St Catherines (pictured left), St Georges Lupset, South Ossett, Pontefract, Featherstone, Westfield and Castleford – are reporting increasing number of people needing to use their services.
So this Pancake Day, Tuesday 28 February, Wakefield Cathedral has decided to launch a Giving Campaign on the Cathedral steps to coincide with Pancake Day and the season of Lent, and ask that local people, schools, churches and local businesses join in and bring donations of food that will then be distributed round some of the city’s local foodbanks.
The Dean, the Very Revd Jonathan Greener said: “Pancake Day is traditionally the day when households clear their cupboards to prepare for Lent - a period of fasting and prayer as they get ready for Easter.
“Nowadays people often give up chocolate, cake or sweets – but this year we ask that you give something instead and join us in helping to go some way towards alleviating food poverty here in the Wakefield District,” he added.
The Cathedral will be collecting donations on the Cathedral steps from 10-2pm on Pancake Day – they will also serve free pancakes there from 10-11.30pm and everyone is welcome - but remember to bring a tin!
If anyone wants to continue this tradition through Lent, a shopping trolley will be available inside the Cathedral for donations.
FOODBANK SHOPPING LIST:
long-life milk
tins of meat, fish, fruit, vegetables
instant mashed potato, instant soup
tins of soup, tinned meals
tea bags, coffee
biscuits
wheat bisks, cereals
tins of soup, tomatoes, spaghetti,ravioli, beans
rice, pasta, jars of sauce