The need for food parcels rockets in Conwy

Dec 2 2010 by Mari Jones, North Wales Weekly News

THE demand for food parcels has rocketed in Conwy county because of the recent cuts in benefits.

Last month the Conwy based charity Cymru Community Foodshare delivered over 50 food parcels to needy people across the region. The parcels have enough groceries in to last three days.

Foodshare’s founder Michelle Garner said: “Due to the recent benefit cuts and economic climate we have seen a massive rise in applications for food parcels.

“This month alone our volunteer drivers have delivered close on 50 emergency parcels. This time last year it was more like 15.

“Sometimes it’s totally heartbreaking. Yesterday we went to one place and had to buy some milk for a newborn baby as the mother didn’t have any.

“My mum and dad have started delivering for us, and my dad is quite a tough nut but this job really gets to him.”

Health visitors, the Job Centre and CAIS, the drug and alcohol agency, refer their clients to the charity.

“We don’t judge anyone, they are just people who need our help,” explained Michelle, who is an ambulance driver.

“It’s amazing the variety of people who need food parcels. We help young families, and also someone who has terminal cancer and can’t get out to get food.

“A lot of these people are very vulnerable and wouldn’t eat if it wasn’t for us.”

The charity is desperately short of donations. They are running low on long life milk, nappies and bread.

“We need more donations, and our fuel expenses have also rocketed,” she said.

“During the summer kind Weekly News readers donated £2,000 to the charity but we are running low again.

“It would be brilliant if more could sponsor a food parcel, which costs £15, or even drop off a few tins.

“We get lots of tins of beans, but it would be great if we received more main meal type donations.

“We also hope to add mince pies or something festive in each parcel.”

Although the charity has approached supermarkets to ask if they could leave a trolley in their stores for the public to donate food, only the Co-op in Penrhyn Bay agreed to do it.

Michelle said: “We are also appealing for a bakery to donate bread that we can freeze as this is a huge drain on our financial resources.

“Foodshare is not funded, and is totally reliant on donations of money and food from individuals and churches.”

Anyone wanting to donate food should drop off at Prince’sŠDrive Baptist Church,ŠSurehope, Antioch, Holy Trinity, Llandudno, Emmanuel, St Joseph’s, Kingdom Crafts or alternatively ring 01492 549609 for collection of larger amounts.

To sponsor a food parcel or donate money visit ccfoodshare.org or send a cheque made payable to Cymru Community Foodshare, Bryn Morfa Holiday Park,ŠBangor Road, Conwy.

Michelle added: “To all our supporters, a very big thank you. Without your continued support we couldn’t carry on doing this.”