Foodbank thanks Ribble Valley donors for 'amazing support' during lockdown

Volunteers at the Ribble Valley Foodbank have thanked the local community for rallying behind them and keeping the vital service stocked with food during a spike in demand.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the number of referrals have quadrupled and its thanks to the kind actions of local people who are continuing to donate funds and food to keep the poor fed.

Some villages have set up their own collection points, and many local organisations and businesses have remembered clients and donated stock which they were unable to sell.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Jane Chitnis, Ribble Valley Foodbank manager, paid tribute to the hard work of the volunteers and the generosity of the community during challenging times.

(from left to right) Volunteers Christine Willman, Mandy Hunter and assistant manager, Hannah Priory.(from left to right) Volunteers Christine Willman, Mandy Hunter and assistant manager, Hannah Priory.
(from left to right) Volunteers Christine Willman, Mandy Hunter and assistant manager, Hannah Priory.

She explained: "The Ribble Valley Foodbank has continued to operate throughout lockdown and we have been running a delivery service since the beginning of April. We have been much busier than usual, serving four times as many clients this June than we did in the same month last year and we are getting busier as time goes on and, sadly, more people find themselves unable to cope financially.

"In order to maintain social distancing, our volunteers have been working in very small teams, which means they have been working very hard! We are so thankful for their cheerfulness and commitment - they really have gone the extra mile.

"We are hugely grateful to all the kind and generous, amazing local people who have continued to donate food throughout the crisis. We have also been blessed with financial donations from a wide variety of sources including charities and groups, and from private individuals who are no longer able to go shopping and so have made a donation in lieu of the food which they would have usually put in our collection boxes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"We are particularly grateful to those people who have set up standing orders to the Foodbank, as this gives us some financial stability and enables us to plan ahead."

She added: "We don't know what lies ahead and we are getting used to adapting to new circumstances at short notice, but we know that the Foodbank can only help local people in need if the public continues to help us.

"If you can support the Ribble Valley Foodbank by volunteering, or donating food or money, please visit www.ribblevalley.foodbank.org.uk."

Related topics: