The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A food bank will be able to help more people desperately in need after landing a £3,500 grant.
Holbeach Community Larder has just recently stepped in to help feed a young couple who were both in poor health and had not eaten for three days as they had not been able to claim benefits.
They had been taken along by their landlord who had been supporting them at their own expense and was desperate.
The larder also recently provided a food parcel and toiletries to a family of six who had suddenly been made homeless due to domestic violence and helped a single father who had been forced to give up work to look after his toddler and had been waiting six weeks for his benefits claim to be processed.
Based at Holbeach Reading Rooms, Church Street, the community larder, originally a satellite of Spalding’s Agape food bank, is now run by Holbeach All Saints’ Church.
It has been awarded the £3,500 from the Bishop of Lincoln’s Social Justice Fund administered by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation.
The money will fund the purchase of further storage facilities for donated food, which is used to make up food parcels for those in need.
It will also go towards buying new tables and tablecloths for the cafe run by the larder, as well as better outdoor signage and some running costs.
The Rev Rosamund Seal, vicar of All Saints’ Church, said: “We are very pleased to have this grant which will enable us to continue to provide this all important facility to those in need in Holbeach and the surrounding area.
“The award also serves as a huge encouragement to the 25 volunteers who regularly help with the many aspects of running and staffing the foodbank, the store room, the kitchen and the café.”
The Community Larder is open every Friday from 11am to 2pm for the distribution of food parcels to those with vouchers from partner organisations or other evidence of need.
The cafe serves a two-course meal between noon and 1pm every Friday. It is open to everyone and there is no charge but people are invited to donate what they can afford.
Currently between 40 and 50 people a week take part.
In exceptional circum-stances food parcels can be issued outside session times by contacting administrator Jane Francis on 01406 425601 or Rev Rosamund Seal on 01406 424989.
