50 years of Favell: Food bank continues to play vital role with 6,600 parcels given out this year alone
As Weston Favell Shopping Centre celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is important to commend the vital services offered as part of the community hub.
One of those is Weston Favell Centre Food Bank, a collective project between the Emmanuel Group of Churches, St Peter’s and Storehouse Church.
This collaboration began back in 2012, when the need to provide for people who had lost their income and were unable to help themselves was recognised.
Denise Kennedy and Oliver Gifford, who have been associated with the food bank for two years and nine months respectively, spoke to the Chronicle & Echo about the difference the service makes.
“It makes a massive difference,” said Denise. “People don’t just come for the food, they come for the other services.”
Oliver continued: “It has become a community hub and people don’t just get their food and leave. We emphasise talking to us and the other volunteers about their issues.”
A woman from Sudan, who moved to the town and attended the food bank for the first time nine months ago, is one of the success stories that sprung to mind for Denise and Oliver.
This lady was pregnant and the team supported her with food and connected her with the right people to secure temporary accommodation. Just last week she came back to say her goodbyes as she had secured a permanent home and felt in a financially stable position.
“A big thing with this food bank is trying to help people move on from us,” said Oliver. “Stories like that really make it worthwhile and we want to show you can get out of poverty – it’s not a dead-end.”
The demand for the service continues to rise, with 609 parcels given out in August and a rise to 775 in September.
Denise explained that these parcels can feed from one individual to a family of five, and the number of people they have helped is probably triple the number of parcels.
6,620 parcels have been given out this year alone – 4,474 of those have fed adults and the remaining 2,146 have helped families with children.
When asked why the food bank is such an integral part of the shopping centre, Oliver said: “When you come somewhere like this, it’s very daunting. Having it in a centre makes it less of a big deal.”
“We give them normal bags and no one would know they’ve been to us,” Denise continued. “There’s stigma around it.”
The pair praised the Weston Favell centre team, including management and security, for their continued support whenever they need anything.
The Chronicle & Echo is working with Weston Favell Shopping Centre until the end of October to mark the celebration. If you would like to share your memories and pictures, email [email protected].