MORE volunteers are being welcomed at Salisbury Foodbank.

The charity is in need of more helping hands especially in the lead up to Christmas.

Salisbury Foodbank manager Maria Stevenson said: “We definitely need more volunteers in our warehouse in the run up to Christmas.”

“It is an interesting time so the more volunteers the merrier.”

She praised the “strong team” of volunteers that support the charity’s small team of part time staff with day-to-day tasks from packing up food boxes to meeting and greeting people when they come in as well as providing a friendly listening ear.

“Volunteers are amazing people they do this out of the kindness of their heart. We rely on them so heavily to put out stock and be ambassadors for our charity and they don’t get paid. You’re a very special person if you volunteer. I’m seeing that more and more and appreciating that more as well,” added Maria.

“We couldn’t run without them. That is plain and simple. Every space that we’re in there are volunteers leading the way.”

She said: “There is something so rewarding about being selfless and giving up your time to help others and they wouldn’t do it if they didn’t feel they were creating change in these people’s lives.”

Donations of food and money are even more important to the city’s foodbank heading into the winter months.

Last month, the charity distributed nearly two tonnes more food than it took in and the picture looks similar for September.

Salisbury Foodbank manager Maria Stevenson hopes the Harvest season will bring in more donations from local schools, churches and the community to bolster its food stock levels, especially as demand on its services looks set to continue.

Maria said: “Now historically is the time that we do a big push for food and this harvest appeal will hopefully get us through to Christmas and it is much needed.”

She told the Journal when she was assessing stock levels towards the end of August, which she says was a “huge” month for the charity, stock levels of most products were “very low”.

The foodbank currently needs:

  • Long life fruit juice
  • Tinned fish/meat/vegetable option
  • Tinned fruit
  • Tinned soup
  • Baked beans
  • Rice pudding
  • Custard
  • Rice (50kg)
  • Sponge pudding

“These are the top items that we need in the foodbank at the moment,” added Maria, who also says it has less than a month worth of soup on its shelves.

“With the increasing demand we are seeing we need to safeguard these core items.”

The foodbank has set up an online page for donations which it has been using to buy food items. Those wishing to support the foodbank can make monetary donations via justgiving.com/campaign/SalisburyFoodbankFoodFund

Alternatively, cheques made payable to Salisbury Foodbank can be delivered to the warehouse at Unit 6b, Ashfield Trading Estate, Ashfield Road, Salisbury, SP2 7HL.

Donations can also be brought to the warehouse.

For more information about volunteering visit the website salisbury.foodbank.org.uk

 

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