Emergency: 07749 322 291
Email: help@exmouthfoodbank.org.uk
As you will be aware, the Exmouth Food Bank has continued to operate throughout the pandemic but within a restricted setting, working with a very small number of volunteers and responding to requests for help by delivering our food parcels to clients.
We are now beginning to plan for our full reopening from 7th September when we can welcome our clients back into the hall and are therefore looking to expand our volunteer team. We are currently contacting individuals on our reserve volunteer list to see if they are willing and able to fill specific roles or to join sessions where we have gaps. Please watch out for the emails.
The building work has picked up a pace at the Salvation Army Hall in Sheppards Row where the Food Bank is located.
We have seen great progress and the next stage is a new floor which is due to be laid early August. The works are due to be completed by the end of August ready for opening face to face sessions with clients in September.
Details of the planned reopening of the Food Bank will be fully communicated to all of our clients, referring agencies and volunteer team in good time. Our plans will of course still be subject to any government COVID restrictions that may be in place.
More information about this will be shared as things are finalised during August.
Due to the generosity of our donors we currently have a good level of most stock items. If you do want to donate, we need the following:
During June we delivered 142 parcels which fed 274 people. It has been good to see that we have been able to help some new clients who contacted us as a result of seeing the new posters which signpost the Food Bank.
We are sometimes asked to supply emergency food supplies to someone in need when we are not open and so we are piloting a scheme called ‘Out of Hours Boxes’. The idea is that we supply a number of boxes of emergency food to a group of participating churches, schools and GP surgeries who can ensure they are given to anyone in need of emergency help when we are closed. A pilot is currently being trialled with:
We will pilot the 'Out of Hours Boxes' until September and then, if it is successful, we will extend our reach by asking for other churches, schools and GP practices to volunteer to be part of the scheme.
We were delighted this month to be contacted by some talented gardeners in Woodbury who donated their excess allotment produce for us to distribute.
We have also signed up to be part of the Budleigh Co-op food share scheme where we receive unsold fresh items from the store each week.
