The efforts of staff at Nourish food bank plus the ‘incredible generosity’ of local people and businesses are helping ensure no one in Tunbridge Wells goes hungry this Christmas.
Demand is always high at this time of year, and a dedicated team of volunteers are working around the clock to help bring a little festive cheer to those who need it most.
Nourish Trustee Marianne MacDonald told the Times: “We’ve been busier than ever in terms of the number of food parcels we’re putting together.
“We have a campaign in Tunbridge Wells called Our Town Cares in the run-up to the festive season, and thanks to the incredible generosity of local people and businesses, we’ve been able to make up a great number of Christmas parcels.
“We’ve been able to provide 62 over the last few days, which, as well as the generosity of people around here, also demonstrates the great number of people in need of help.
On top of delivering parcels to people here in town, the Nourish team also reach people living further afield, with Goudhurst and Cranbrook among the areas they cover.
Miss MacDonald said: “We deliver every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, with emergency deliveries over and above that.
“We will be delivering up to Christmas Eve, but Dawn, who is the unsung saint of Nourish, has done emergency deliveries on Christmas Day as well.
“The vast majority of the people we’re helping are employed. Some have benefits issues, delays in payment, are on sick leave, or have been hit by a family bereavement.
“Unfortunately we see some of the really sad stories of why people are in need. On the other hand we see the best of people as we see how generous they are with the time and money they give.”
As well as thanking individuals for their contributions, Miss MacDonald also praised businesses for lending a helping hand.
“There are companies like Children’s Salon, Search Press, AXA, Thomson, Snell and Passmore, AJ Bells, and a whole list of others who have been amazing. It’s really quite touching.”
Last week Nourish volunteers could also be found helping shoppers pack their bags in Asda, part of their final push to spread cheer and raise vital funds and awareness at this special time of year.
Earlier this year the Times reported on the fact that Nourish runs a unique home delivery service.
Volunteer chairman Olga Johnson, pictured in-set above, told us: “We operate a doorstep delivery rather than asking people to pick up their food, thus enabling us to ensure confidentiality instead of the embarrassment of queuing.”
The story went on to make headlines in the national media.
Nourish contact: 07785987532
