Page 13 - link magazine

Think Foodbank in 2015: Your

support will make a difference

2014 WAS a busy year for Swindon to make the food available closer
Foodbank. Having given out 6,500 to where their clients live. Many
food parcels in 2013 - 65 tonnes of do not have their own transport or
food - the team wondered how the the bus fare to collect supplies for
year would measure up. The exact several days in one trip.
stats for 2014 are not available yet, In December the charity received
but while demand did not slow, the a welcome donation, a second van.
charity has seen a levelling off of West Swindon-based company Isambard are record breakers
the steep growth seen in previous Imagine Cruising donated a new
years. van with the support of Fish Bros YOUNGSTERS at Isambard had to make a second run.”
Demand for 2015 is uncertain, Peugeot Project manager Andrew Community School in North Caitlin Packer, Year 10 member
with the Government’s benefits Hill said: “We would like to thank Swindon collected just under of the organising group, said:
reform Universal Credit being rolled the team at Imagine Cruising from a tonne of food for Swindon “It’s a surprise that we’ve done so
out in Swindon next month. the bottom of our hearts. The van Foodbank during harvest festival well. It makes me really proud of
Last year saw a change of is being used daily to pick up food in October last year, the highest Isambard.”
management at Foodbank, with donations and for distribution. ever amount from a single source Year 8 student Dan Hunt, who
the promotion of Andrew Hill to “I would also like to thank GWP since the charity was established helped collect the food at Asda,
project manager. Norma Bates Packaging for their continued in 2005. added: “It feels really good to be a
joined as office coordinator and support - without this assistance To top it off, students gave up record breaker. Foodbank is a really
Amy Bracey is the new assistant from the business community, we a Sunday on 7 December to pack important charity to support.”
project manager. Swindon Foodbank couldn’t do what we do.” bags for Asda Walmart customers Isambard project coordinator
also saw their distribution network Swindon Food Bank is appealing at Orbital Shopping Park, which Jacky Miller said the harvest
grow, expanding from three outlets for continued support from raised £1,030. They also collected festival collection involved the
to six, now including Highworth, corporates as well as individuals. another half a tonne of food. whole school and 30 students
Freshbrook and Rodbourne Cheney. Without the generosity of people Project manager Andrew Hill assisted at the Sunday collection.
The intention is to find a group who give time, food or money the said: “The support of Isambard She added: “The students have
of committed volunteers, who charity wouldn’t exist. If you can students and staff has been been absolutely brilliant and our
have suitable premises to start up help Swindon Foodbank this year amazing. We came along with our thanks have to go to parents and
another centre in Royal Wootton contact them via swindonfoodbank. van thinking a single trip back to the public at Asda Walmart who
Bassett. This move is not related co.uk or stay in touch via Facebook: the warehouse would be adequate, were overwhelmingly generous in
to increased demand, but a desire Swindon Foodbank. but there was so much that we helping Foodbank.”

Facilities manager Tony Deller and Imagine Cruising staff hand over
the sponsored van to Foodbank manager Andrew Hill, in green, centre,
alongside Simon Bradbury of Fish Brothers Peugeot, far left, and
Foodbank assistant Amy Bracey, far right

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swindonlink.com n January 2015 13