St Catherine’s Emergency Food Bank were given 126 gallons of milk by Wakefield District Round Table last week in preparation for the expected harsh Christmas and winter period.
In the first time that the Food Bank has worked with the Wakefield District Round Table, the charity bought the milk for St Catherine’s with the money raised through their annual Festival of Beer which took place in June.
This winter is expected to be the worst since 1950 so the donation of hundreds of cartons of milk was welcomed with open arms by the Food Bank’s volunteers.
Jonathan Williams, Project Coordinator at St Catherine’s, says, “The donation is vital as demand is very high and milk is relatively expensive.
“Last year we distributed 3,000 food parcels and this year we are expecting to distribute even more.
“When Matthew Wood from the Round Table arrived with 126 gallons of milk for us, I honestly couldn’t believe my eyes!”
Wakefield District Round Table is a community group which helps to organise charity events across the local area and they have raised thousands of pounds for those in need over the 40 years that the group has been running.
Some of the wards in Wakefield are among the most deprived areas in the country and St Catherine's provides help for local people living beneath the poverty line, giving aid to families before other social care procedures can be applied.
The Food Bank is the largest in Wakefield and the Five Towns and was awarded the Community Enterprise Award at the Wakefield Express Business Awards in June and was named as Charity of the Year by the Sainsbury’s branch on Ings Road, Wakefield, earlier in 2015.
St Catherine’s Emergency Food Bank has already distributed over 37,000 meals to those living in poverty this year but desperately need to replenish their stocks with tinned meat and pasta (please contact Jonathan Williams if you are able to help - contact details below).
Lisa Grant, St Catherine’s Centre Manager, says, “Unfortunately this service is more vital than ever and without our food parcels many adults and children across Wakefield would genuinely have nothing to eat.”
But the Food Bank does more than just give hot meals to the homeless as it also provides referrals for debt advice, organises an annual Hardship Lunch and has opened the first Recovery Café for sufferers of mental illness.
The Food Bank will be holding their third annual Community Christmas Dinner on Monday 21st December, with food being served at 1pm, which helps the homeless and families in need during the festive period.
St Catherine’s are currently looking for people who would like to volunteer at the dinner between 9am to 1pm (please contact Jonathan Williams for more information – contact details below).
Around 70 people are expected to be fed at the Christmas lunch and this year’s event is being sponsored by the ASDA Foundation and AHC (Anthony Hodges Consulting Ltd – a global communications company with the UK Head Office based in Wakefield).
BAG PACKERS NEEDED:
St Catherine’s Food Bank will be bag packing to raise vital funds and need volunteers.
Sainsbury's Ings Road Wakefield store this Saturday (12th Dec)
Asda, Asdale Road, Wakefield next Saturday (19 Dec)
If you can volunteer any time between 9 and 5pm at either of the supermarkets, then please contact
Jonathan Williams on: 01924 211130; or email: foodstore@stcatherines-wakefield.org.uk.