An article in the March Link stated that, after April, the foodbank operated by the Light Church will limit its service to postcodes which extend into the centre of Bradford. However, there is a food bank which provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and surrounding areas. The following is an account of this bank; I am indebted to Keith Thomson, a member of the committee, for this information.
Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank is the original food bank in Bradford. It opened in 2004, as an extension of the Curry Project for rough sleepers, started by Lashman Singh. It provides food bags for the whole of the Bradford district and collects food from the same area.
It is non-sectarian, supporting people of all faiths and none, and the volunteers are from all sections of the diverse Bradford community. The main committee, the original seven and up to fifty volunteers are just that. We are all volunteers and no-one is paid.
We never see the people and families that tuck into our food bags, as we only deal with the professionals who support those at risk and the vulnerable. The organisations we supply number over one hundred and include social service departments, housing associations and housing officers, the national health service, community centres, child care providers and many others.
Our food bags are available seven days a week during non-sleeping hours, that is, as the need arises.
Eighty per cent of the food in our bags is donated by individuals, schools, places of worship (all faiths), places of work, Age UK shops, convenience stores and collections from customers at supermarkets by our volunteers. The September Harvest Festivals, Vaisakhi and Eid celebrations are our times of plenty.
The remaining twenty percent of our food is purchased from local supermarkets who give us the lowest price they can. Last year we spent £20,000 on food and our income, donations from firms, individuals, schools, and charity events just kept pace with our needs.
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In 2004, we distributed 300 bags; by 2010 it was 1,000; 2011 - 1,500; 2012 - 3,500 and 2013 - 7,850. Last year, our food bags contained £100,000 worth of food.
Jim Jennings (Little Lane)
[Editors’ note: We apologise to the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank, for the wrong impression given in the March edition of The Link, that people in the outer postcodes of Bradford will have nowhere to go to get food after 31 March.
As this article clearly describes, the Bradford Metropolitan Food Bank will be accessible to them. It is doing, and has been doing, wonderful work for a number of years. Long may they continue.
We are grateful to Dr Jim Jennings for setting the record straight.]
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