6 mins
The Big Question
This month’s question is: ‘Does your church engage with a foodbank?’
Gordon Sharp, reader, Locum and Community Development Worker, Dundee West Church/Making Dundee Home
Mark Birkett, locum and assistant at Edinburgh: Richmond Craigmillar
“Dundee West has contributed to Dundee Food Bank, but now the contributions go to our project: Making Dundee Home. As well as donations of food from church members there is Fare Share, Greggs, Tesco and M&S all providing food. In addition, some local businesses and people contribute food through our collection box in our community cafe that runs Monday to Friday: The Roseangle Kitchen Cafe. “Making Dundee Home draws on creativity, hospitality and spirituality to promote justice and well-being. This includes Wednesdays and Fridays when we are open from 11am-3pm and provide lunch at 1pm for those who are struggling to make ends meet. We’ve never missed a day since opening, including Christmas and New Year. On Wednesdays we have more than 30 and on Fridays around 50. Friday is always a three-course lunch. That is, until the Coronavirus Covid-19 where we are now limiting food to what we can hand out and what can be picked up.
“There is now a new food security network in the city that will work on the provision of food to prevent handouts as that can be demeaning. I think that the only way we can properly address food poverty is through a basic income guarantee for everyone.
“Our own approach draws directly from the common meal tradition of the New Testament where we all eat and share together around one very big table. To this has been added a drama production entitled ‘the Mental Musical’ produced by Just Bee Productions.”
“We at Richmond Craigmillar Church run what we call a ‘Fair Share Scheme’. This is distinct from a food bank. The Fair Share aims to provide good food at a low and affordable cost. In our Fair Share we use a membership card and stamp system enabling locals to access a wide range of produce for £2.50 a card.
“Customers have the option of buying one item for two stamps, one item for one stamp, and two items for one stamp. We also have a popular loyalty card system that covers toiletries and cleaning products as well as a free table that stocks food that is near the end of its sell by date and sanitary products.
“On occasion we provide emergency care packages for those who require immediate assistance. Ultimately, the Fair Share we run is grounded in social justice and helps us to combat the feeling among local people that they don’t want to ask for help because they are proud.
“Working in tandem with the local foodbanks, we hope to tackle the damaging effects of food poverty within Niddrie.
“The scheme has also given residents the opportunity to meet in our church cafe and enjoy the benefits of community and fellowship. There is a good spirit among the volunteers, staff and customers-together we work towards a common goal.
“We aim to offer solidarity not simply charity.”
Joyce Leggate, elder at Kirkcaldy: Torbain
The Rev Iain May, minister, Edinburgh: South Leith
Rev Melvyn Wood, mnister, Glasgow: Blawarthill
“I am an elder and safeguarding co-ordinator at Torbain Church in Kirkcaldy. I am also the Chair of Kirkcaldy Foodbank. Torbain Church along with every other faith group in the town supports Kirkcaldy Foodbank with weekly food donations and collections for the foodbank at special services.
“Kirkcaldy Foodbank is an independent foodbank and has been generously hosted within Dysart St Clair Church since its inception seven years ago.
“We have recently relocated to Viewforth chuch hall which became surplus to requirements within the presbytery following a presbytery review. This move has enabled us to enhance the support we can offer to those in need. “The food bank issues over 1200 food parcels every month within the town and is supported entirely by voluntary donations for the community.
“The support from all the churches is invaluable and we receive regular donations of food and cash from all congregations. Many volunteers at the food bank are church members and the Christian spirit is found daily in the work of the foodbank. Helping those in need at a time where they cannot help themselves is a fundamental part of my faith journey as it is with many others. On many occasions the food bank has faced challenges due to escalating demand and limited resources and our prayers have been answered every time.
“I feel that the church has an essential role in ensuring the poor are fed and given comfort in their time of need and I feel privileged to be a part of it.”
“In Leith over 50% of those who use our foodbank are working.
“Yet due to zero hour contracts or low pay they find it difficult to put food on the table.
“Five local churches run the foodbank in this area of North Edinburgh and Leith.
“We started some seven years ago and since then have served approx. 4-5,000 local folks per year, 25% of them children.
“We should not be having to do this! The coronavirus crisis will only increase the demand for the services we provide. It will be those in low paid work within the service industries who will no doubt, be the first to have their hours cut or laid off with no sickness benefit or pay.
“Here in Leith we will keep the foodbank open to ensure those in need have food.
“But there are encouraging signs as well.
“We have had numerous folks offering to help and volunteer within our foodbank. The locals have been even more generous in their food donations. Our local supermarket collection bins are overflowing. One individual has given us a donation of £10,000 to ensure we can buy food so others do not suffer.
“This is a blessing and a real sign that people do care and are willing to help others. A true sign of a community coming together, I pray this sense of sharing and belonging continues when the current crisis is over.”
“In Blawarthill, our food bank was started in 2013 by members and friends of the congregation, some of whom had personal experience of food poverty, who wished to help others facing the same challenges today. While we are affiliated with the Trussell Trust, the foodbank remains an organisation of the congregation.
“Glasgow NW Foodbank issued 10,613 three day food parcels in 2019, and demand has grown year-on-year. Last year we had our biggest challenge, with the rollout of Universal Credit causing delays to benefit payments. Demand from refugees and asylum seekers was also high.
“Little did we know then what lay around the corner. The Covid-19 emergency threatened our very operation, as the advice came out to close all churches. Then it was quickly accepted by the authorities that we were providing a vital local service and our staff and volunteers were designated key workers by Glasgow City Council.
“Some volunteers had to step back as being in an at-risk group, however we had many new offers from others who found themselves with unexpected spare time. Our collection points at local supermarkets were filling up faster than ever. People were exceptionally generous and were donating more than ever. We had to start operating in a very different way, as we followed the rules on distancing, disinfection, hand-washing, etc.
“We have always looked forward to the day when our services are no longer required. However, Jesus fed the hungry and that’s what we feel he is calling us to do here.”
This article appears in the May 2020 Issue of Life and Work
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