MSN Life Autumn 2021

MIDSOMER NORTON LIFE 37
SOMER VALLEY FOODbank
D
ue to the sale of our existing warehouse,
the Somer Valley Foodbank needs to find a
new storage facility that can hold up to 7 tonnes
of non-perishable food. We need a space that is
about 1,500 square feet in size.
We are appealing to the local business community
for help in this matter and if anyone knows of
or has a premises that we could use, please
could they contact the Somer Valley Foodbank
Chairman, Paul Woodward, on 07729523986 or
email info@somervalley.foodbank.org.uk.
“We need this matter resolved as soon as possible,
as we have to leave the present warehouse by the
end of the year. The foodbank management team
would like to thank our landlord who has been
most generous and helpful with the arrangement
we have and it is just unfortunate that we have to
leave. It has been a very useful warehouse for us
to have for the last year. We fully understand the
need to sell the facility but we just do not have
the funds to purchase it,” said Paul Woodward.
The Foodbank provides three days of emergency
food to people who need it the most.
Professionals such as health visitors, social workers
and the CAB identify people in crisis and issue
them with a Foodbank voucher. This all done via
phone calls and electronic vouchers.
The voucher can be taken to a Foodbank
distribution centre, in Midsomer Norton,
Peasedown, Paulton or Radstock, where a friendly
team of volunteers will help people with their
food needs.
With more than 70 volunteers collecting and
transporting food, helping in distribution centres
and providing support to those who visit, the
Somer Valley Foodbank is one of the biggest
volunteer-led projects in Bath and North East
Somerset.
Of the 2,000 people who receive help each year,
they are referred to the Foodbank for a variety of
reasons, such as being on a low income, benefit
delays, benefit changes, debt, ill health and
unemployment, etc.
“We would also like to thank the local press for
their continued support and to the community
who continue to donate food for us to hand out
to those who are referred to us by local agencies.
We are now calling on the community for help in
finding a new warehouse,” added Paul Woodward.
For more information about the Somer Valley
Foodbank, visit www.somervalley.foodbank.org.
uk, email info@somervalley.foodbank.org.uk or call
07729523986