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Thank you to the Ribble Valley Community

23rd February 2017

There continues to be a need for a foodbank in the Ribble Valley, with 1512 people receiving three days emergency food in 2016, 20% up on the previous year.  Of these, 538 were children.   The main reasons for attending foodbank are low income, followed by benefit delays and benefit changes.  We are seeing many people in very challenging situations, and it is a privilege for us to be able to help those in crisis need – and as Churches Together in Clitheroe to share God’s love with our community..

People in the Ribble Valley have continued to generously donate food, and if we ever have a shortage of food a notice goes on the website and to various organisations, and within two or three weeks we don’t have that shortage any longer!  At Christmas we were able to distribute around 170 Christmas food parcels to clients referred through our referral agencies, making a difference to Christmas for those in real difficulties.  Much of the Christmas food came through our Tesco collection at the beginning of December, and from individuals who donated cakes, puddings, biscuits, chocolates and other treats.  Our heartfelt thanks goes to everyone in the Ribble Valley who has supported the foodbank since we opened in 2013.  Without people giving food, we couldn’t help those who really need it.

The foodbank works on a referral system, and we have 62 referral agencies in the Ribble Valley who hold foodbank vouchers, and distribute them to clients when they know there is a need.  Clients then come to either of the foodbank centres in Ribble Valley or Longridge, and are offered refreshments and light lunch, as well as signposting to where they could receive further help.  There are currently 76 volunteers at foodbank, many of whom have given of their skills and time since the foodbank opened.

We are also very grateful to those who give financially to foodbank – some give by standing order, others give one off gifts, or fundraise – all are important to us.  Organisations kindly donate money they have raised for the foodbank, and we are particularly grateful to the Clitheroe Fireworks committee for their generous donation of £5000 at the end of 2016.  We rely solely on the local community for funds to keep the foodbank going.

Ultimately, we would prefer not to see the need for a foodbank in the Ribble Valley, but with numbers up and in the present national situation, we will continue for as long as we are needed.  I recently watched the film ‘I Daniel Blake’ which is about people in the welfare system – the audience silence at the end portrayed it all.  On 12 February it won a Bafta for Best British Film.  I highly recommend everyone watches this – and we are seeing clients in exactly the same situations that are portrayed in the film.

So, thank you, Ribble Valley Community, for your support in many ways to make a difference in people’s lives.  I will let a recent client have the last word:

“I would like to thank you for all the support and advice you gave to me and my husband today.  You and your team made us feel very welcome it was such a hard decision to come to terms with the fact we needed help as we have never needed it in the past.  Once we are in a better financial position I would like to be able to help and donate to the food bank as I think this is such a good cause.  We really do appreciate everything you did for us today”

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