SURGING demand for its services led the volunteers of Nourish foodbank to launch a fresh campaign to stockpile much needed supplies before the holiday season began.
The Tunbridge Wells-based organisation, which has recently expanded into neighbouring Tonbridge, set up a ‘reverse advent calendar’ system in order to ensure supplies last into the New Year.
During the project, which encouraged people to place a new item into a box each day, volunteers set up a pop-up in Ely Court next to the Royal Victoria Place where donations could be made.
Last year, the organisation fed 46 families and 21 individuals during the Christmas and New Year period, a feat Co-Chairman Olga Johnson described as a ‘challenge’. In total, Nourish provided enough food for 28,269 meals in 2015.
The feat regularly leaves the charity’s stockroom at Big Yellow Storage bare during the early part of each year, adding greater urgency to create a sustainable stockpile of food and essential items.
In order to ensure the most useful products were handed over, the charity compiled a list of recommendations. Items required included rice, soup, tinned fruit long life milk, toothpaste and washing up liquid.
Mrs Johnson added: “We know people are extremely generous in the run up to Christmas and donating a reverse advent calendar means that we have enough to help those in need over the festive period and into the New Year.”
