On Valentine's Day, we wanted you to know how much your support means to local people, so this newsletter includes some stories from the past few weeks.
You were magnificently generous at Christmas - we've got all the numbers below.
In between newsletters, you can always find out the latest at
www.wimbledon.foodbank.org.uk
- we update the website constantly to let you know what food and toiletries we need the most.
Thank you for making a Christmas difference
Food poverty is dreadful at any time of year but it seems particularly poignant at Christmas time when so many of us are indulging ourselves and our families with an abundance of lovely things to eat. It's especially hard when families are dealing with food poverty on top of illness or tragedy. We received this thank-you from a local mother:
We saw several families who were grieving the loss of a much-loved parent or spouse. And because that person had also been the breadwinner, the families were now finding it difficult to put food on the table Thanks to you, we were able to provide them with much-needed help in their darkest hours.
So many of you helped
So many local people, young and old, took time out of their own Christmas preparations to help us on an ad-hoc basis at our busiest time of year. We also had many volunteers delivering Christmas hampers to Merton residents, including volunteers from Christmas Lunch On Jesus. A huge and heartfelt thank you to you all.
Here are the numbers
In Christmas week alone, we fed 389 people, including 162 children. That's 125 Merton households in crisis who were helped out with food, toiletries and Christmas treats - in just one week.
That was only possible because of the generosity of our supporters who donated 7,804 tonnes of food in December, a fantastic result.
More thank yous....
Pelham Powerhouse!
Thank you to all the teachers, pupils and parents at Pelham Primary School for donating £1,147.50 - we were astounded and very, very grateful!
Magic McAlpine
Thanks to the Sir Robert McAlpine staff who are working at the All England Club and donated a wealth of Christmas treats.
Awesome AFC Wimbledon!
Members of the first team delivered food that had been donated by fans via the AFC Wimbledon Foundation - thank you!
And we couldn't do anything without our regular volunteers - all 70 of them - thank you to you all and thank you also to Al Forno in Wimbledon for hosting our first ever volunteers get-together.
How can I help?
We don't get government funding, and we rely on you, our supporters. Here are our top tips for easy ways to help.
1. Donate via food donation boxes
If you shop at Tesco New Malden or Waitrose Wimbledon or Waitrose Raynes Park, buy a couple of extra items with your shopping and drop them in the collection box near the customer service area. Click here for a list of the things we need urgently.
2. Raise money when shopping online
Sign up to easyfundraising and over 2,700 retailers will give us a donation when you shop online, at no extra cost to you. Click here for more information.
3. Ask your school or office to donate
Ask if your school or office will put a donation box in the building. Just drop the donations off to us at 59 High Path on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12 and 1.30 pm. Can't deliver? Call us and we will find a way to collect.
4. Get the supermarket to deliver
Place an online order with any of the online supermarkets, for delivery to 59 High Path on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12 and 1.30 pm. Please note - we can't accept deliveries at the other food bank centres so please make sure you use the High Path address.
5. Start a money box
We are very happy to receive donations of money, no matter how small. We use cash to buy food and also to cover our running costs. See here for details of how to donate.
Thank you again for everything you do to provide help to people in our local community at the worst times in their lives. It's not just the food that makes the difference to them - it's knowing that their neighbours care.
With gratitude
Wimbledon Foodbank
FOOD BANK FACTS
Why do people need the foodbank?
The reasons people face food poverty are many and varied: job loss, illness, bereavement, delayed payments from employers and government. We have met victims of domestic violence; parents who go hungry to feed their children and families facing a change of circumstance because of the death or illness of a breadwinner. Many people don't have the safety net of family, friends and savings.
If you know someone in food poverty, you can go to the website for information about how they can get help.
Can people choose their own food?
Contrary to the impression some press reports give, clients can't just walk in at will and take as much food as they can carry. They are referred to us by schools, doctors, health visitors, Citizens Advice Bureaux and other agencies. They receive an emergency parcel of food to last two to three days and there is a limited choice. We do supply vegetarian packs, and we can replace pork or beef if there are specific dietary requirements, but beyond that, the client is given pre-picked shopping.
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