WOKINGHAM’S foodbank has launched an appeal for specific donations that will help the borough’s homeless population this harvest time.
The Rose Street based centre helps families who are struggling to afford to eat and usually sees an abundance of donations during harvest as schools, churches and community groups hold collections, suppers and celebrations.
This year, the charity says it wants the borough to look beyond what it calls a “season of mellow fruitfulness” and to think ahead to how it can help those who are vulnerable as winter begins to take hold.
The Wokingham Foodbank’s Harvest Appeal this year would appreciate donations that will help the homeless survive, whether they are sleeping rough or sofa surfing. They are requesting items that will help with cooking food, keeping warm and dry, lighting, and anything that will help the homeless survive an English winter.
To guide donors, it has published a harvest shopping list which includes hand wipes, socks and underwear, torches and camping stoves.
[floated align=”right”]What the foodbank needs
- Food in cans with ring pulls
- Ready meals
- Pot Noodles
- Dried Milk powder
- Sugar
- Toothpaste
- Soap
- Toiletries
- Face/hand wipes
- Socks and Underwear
- Hats, scarves and/or gloves
- Jeans or Tracksuit bottoms
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Torches or camping lanterns
- Camping stoves (gas cartridge type)
- Inflatable single mattresses
- Thermos Flasks
- Camping cooking pots & cutlery Sets
- Drawstring bags to hold the above[/floated]
David Atkinson, who co-ordinates the Foodbank, said: “Any donations that we cannot use in and around Wokingham will be donated to other charities supporting the homeless, or to those supporting refugees fleeing conflict.”
The foodbank is also asking supporters to donate their Winter Fuel Allowance. Last winter it used this fund to help more than 60 families who could not afford to heat or light their homes.
Mr Atkinson said: “No money changed hands, care professionals referred deserving families to us, and we loaded credit directly onto their pre-payment cards or keys.
“We were only able to do this because some of our supporters who received Winter Fuel Allowance from the Government chose to donate that money to the foodbank, and we used this plus some of our own funds to help.
“If you receive Winter Fuel Allowance, but don’t really need it, why not donate it to the foodbank and we’ll make sure it helps needy families.”
The foodbank also welcomes new volunteers.
To help or for more information, log on to wokingham.foodbank.org.uk or call 07926 524605.
