Wrexham’s foodbank gears up for busy festive season

The team at Wrexham’s foodbank are gearing up for a busy Christmas period.

Staffed by over 100 dedicated volunteers, the main warehouse on Rhosddu Road is seen as a “lifeline” to many individuals and families across Wrexham.

In the past six months 1,778 people across Wrexham have required emergency food supplies – , 1,249 of which were adults and 529 were children.

Earlier this week figures released by anti-poverty charity, the Trussell Trust showed that while Wrexham’s foodbank usage was comparatively low Wales-wide, its figures remained the second highest in North Wales.

It isn’t just families who need help, lots of single people and couples find themselves in need at times, many of whom work in low paid employment. The Trussell Trust this week called for urgent action amid concerns about the impact of Universal Credit.

Now the volunteers are gearing up for a busy Christmas season to ensure that no one in Wrexham goes short of food once their need has been identified.

The foodbank is all about helping those in a “crisis” – providing three days of emergency food supplies to individuals, couples and families who reach a point where they need a food parcel to get them over three days until their wages or benefits come through.

A voucher has to be issued to those who are recognised by a professional, such as a social worker, as being in crisis. That voucher not only allows them access to a food parcel it also gives them lots of useful advice and contacts that will give them help to get them out of crisis and not using the foodbank.

Locally donations to the warehouse are provided by individuals, businesses and the biggest donations come from Tesco, Sainsbury’s Churches, Rotary Clubs and Coleg Cambria.

The people of Wrexham have been praised for their support, with Cambell Edmonson, Chairman of the Trustees of the Foodbank, stating: “People in Wrexham are very generous and always step up to our appeals for donations.

“As Christmas is on its way we will be called upon to help families across Wrexham and we can only do this with their support.”

Cllr Paul Rogers, Lead Member for Youth Services and Anti Poverty, who recently visited the warehouse, said: “I was very pleased to be able to visit the foodbank and to see first hand the hard work that the hard working volunteers put in to ensure families in Wrexham have somewhere they can rely on in times of hardship.

“I will be supporting this worthwhile charity and I encourage people in Wrexham to give generously as we enter the winter months including the Christmas season which many people worry about due to their financial circumstances.”

Such sentiments were echoed by Cllr Joan Lowe, Lead Member for Health and Adult Social Care, who said she was “humbled by the experience”.

Cllr Lowe added: “It’s plain to see that this charity is well run and organised and is a lifeline to many individuals and families in Wrexham.

“We do have to remember though that in addition to food donations their operation needs money for rent, utilities and insurance and I ask those who can afford to to consider giving financially to the charity.”

Donations can be made of non-perishable food that is in date. They can be taken to foodbank centres around Wrexham and also donated at local supermarkets.

To find out more about Wrexham’s Foodbank and how you may be able to help other than by giving donations why not take a look at their website here.