How the Food Bank at The Well keeps going
The Well charity with café, clothing shop and foodbank in Kibworth High Street, has been going for nearly 20 years now, with a fascinating story of how it came about.
Food had always been given to people in need. However, during the pandemic, this became a major part of The Well’s activities and so the Foodbank was born. When the café needed its space back, wonderfully, the shop next door to The Well became available with a ground floor and cellar.
Sadly, the number of people needing help is increasing.
A car repair bill for essential travel to a poorly paid job can tip a family into the situation of an empty fridge and cupboard.
All ages come to the Foodbank, many living with severe physical and mental health issues. Andy, the manager at The Well, encourages such visitors to engage with one of the partner agencies that come to The Well, to get support and help. People are never judged or turned away, though if it is thought they would benefit from help with debts and budgeting, they will be encouraged to get help from Citizens Advice to talk through their money management.
The South Leicestershire Foodbank funded by the national charity, the Trussell Trust, with the vital help of generous donors, has a large warehouse. From there, it distributes crates of basic foods for two people for three days. An app called ‘Bank the Food’, lets local donors see what is urgently needed to supplement the crate contents, like tomato ketchup and sugar. Thanks to the wonderful team at the Foodbank, the donations are sorted and kept in date order. The hope is that one day, the foodbank will no longer be needed, but that seems a long way off.
Julie Fagan, Well prayer volunteer, Eco Church and Sustainable Harborough Community.
Kibworth Mead students return from Summer
