Collecting for Pontypridd Foodbank

It is unbelievable in this day and age that people have to choose between spending money on food or on heating, or rent. But that is indeed the case. A BBC news article (external link) reports that a new Foodbank is being opened every day, due to growing demand across the UK.

Foodbanks in the Rhondda and in Pontyclun have been serving people in this borough for a while. Both are run by church communities, under the auspices of the Trussell Trust (external link). There is need for one in the Pontypridd area.

Volunteers from various churches invited Tesco shoppers yesterday to add one item from the Foodbank shopping list to their own basket when they shopped, and to leave it with us as they left the store. The aim is to build up a stock of 1.5 tonnes of food - which is what is needed before opening a Foodbank.

Some people's generosity is astounding - an elderly man handed me two plastic bags full of goods he wanted

to donate. It was probably more than he'd purchase for his own use on that occasion. There are others, of course, who just don't want to know! Overall the response was. I thought, encouraging.

Local churches, and the University Chaplaincy are also serving as ongoing food collection points.

St Lukes Church in Rhydyfelin is co-ordinating the project. Once the target quantity of food has been collected, volunteers will be trained by the Trussell Trust, and vouchers issued to professionals who come into contact with people in crisis. We hope that the new Foodbank will be up and running early in the New Year.

For more information, and if you'd like to help out, contact info@pontypridd.foodbank.org.uk.