What is FOODBANK?

Silverbirch Evangelical Church, with other churches and local people in the Bangor area with a burden for helping those in need, are joining forces to support the Foodbank – Bangor NI initiative. Tesco is supporting the initiative.

1 IN 5 people are living below the poverty line in the UK

Every day people in the UK go hungry for reasons ranging from redundancy to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income. Trussell Trust foodbanks provide a minimum of three days emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK.

Why Bangor, you might ask! 53% of children in Bangor schools receive free school meals – the figure across other schools in the North Down Borough area is 12%.  Of Northern Ireland’s 100 most deprived communities, North Down Borough has 26 of them!

Bangor NI Foodbamk provides emergency food and support to local people in crisis.

A gift of food does more than just fill empty stomachs

Foodbanks help to prevent family breakdown, housing loss, crime and mental health problems.  We also take time to listen and signpost people to further support.  Bangor NI Foodbank is part of the Trussel Trust’s UK wide foodbank network.  This helps local churches and communities to open foodbanks, providing emergency food to thousands of people nationwide every year.

How does it work?

There are 5 key stages in the Foodbank initiative:

  1. Non perishable food is donated by the public.  This can be donated directly to the Foodbank Centre or simply by adding an additional one or two items to your weekly shopping and donating those to the Foodbank.
  2. Volunteers sort and pack food into emergency food boxes at the collection centre.
  3. Frontline care professionals such as doctors, church leaders or social workers identify people in crisis and issue Foodbank vouchers to them.
  4. Foodbank vouchers are exchanged for 3 days worth of food at the Foodbank Centre.  The centre is located at the Thermomax Building at Balloo, Bangor.
  5. If requested by those who come to the centre, Foodbank staff take time to chat, listen and provide support as well as directing them to other support services.

Why are we involved?

Matthew 25:35 says, “For I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in ….”
This initiative shows Jesus’ love in action – giving food to those in crisis is Biblical.  Christianity is more than words – it demands action!

I want to know more and I want to help and/or contribute

Foodbank has a website giving detailed information about the initiative as well as the location of all of the centres throughout the UK.  You’ll find the site at www.trusselltrust.org.  If you want to know more about the Bangor NI Foodbank, Silverbirch Evangelical Church has a representative called Nicola who you can contact using the ‘Contact Us’ on this website.

When was the official launch of FOODBANK – Bangor NI?

The official launch was on Wednesday 5th December 2012.