ALDI STOWMARKET - GIPPING WAY

Stowmarket foodbank started in October 2012. Since this time it has grown and evolved to provide short term help and longer term support. It is a real community project with donations from groups, organisations people in the area. It is through this combined effort that we are able to respond to the ever increasing urgent need for help. We now have over 40 referral agencies signposting people to us who are in a time of need, covering all ages & all people groups ensuring that we meet genuine needs. Demand is continuing for food parcels with many families and individuals struggling with loss of jobs, bereavement, sickness, financial crisis, school holidays and benefit cuts, but as the demand continues so does the generosity of the people of our area. It is heart breaking to hear some of the stories of the people who need help from the Foodbank. People need help for all sort of reasons, bereavements, family breakup, victim of crime, fire & flood damage, benefit sanctions & sickness, sometimes it could be something as simple as an unexpected bill like a boiler breaking down. Everyone who receives a food parcel is always so touched that local people are willing to help them and many give back to the foodbank once they are back on their feet. We also employ a family support worker to work alongside families providing parenting support, budgeting advice and home skills. Our vision is to offer long term support alongside our emergency food parcels. We realise that we need to provide support for people in the long term, not just a quick fix but teach them the skills needed for long term success. We run holiday lunch clubs to relieve pressure for families over the holidays and reducing hunger in vulnerable children. We do this by providing a free cooked lunch and activities once a week throughout the holidays. Our community lunch club runs once a month and is aimed at vulnerable and isolated adults in the community, we have 25 regulars who attend, it’s a great chance to enjoy company, a cooked meal and an opportunity for the volunteers to offer support and friendship. We provide transport as many of the people who attend are elderly and are unable to drive.

The surplus food that we collect each week, is displayed outside the Café on the Rec for passers by to help themselves. There are no restrictions on who can take the food.

Manna Pop Up Shop is open on alternate Monday evenings from 6-7.15pm. Customers (there are no criteria for entry) who can afford to, make a donation of £3 (cash or card) to fill a bag with food from 23 large tables of food (ambient, fresh and frozen, bread, fruit and vegetables) toiletries, household cleaning products and 6 large rails of clothing. Tea, coffee, homemade sausage rolls and cakes are provided for no charge. We have an average of 98 customers every time we open. In the last two years we have had more than 5200 customers. In 2024 we helped more than 300 different families from our community that included more than 700 adults and children, Manna is run in Christ Church, Felixstowe charity number 633496. The Compass Charity ( charity number 1195270) uses the upstairs of the church building. I am one of the three trustees. People that attend Manna can be referred to The Compass and vice versa. The Compass supports people with debt management, CV writing, benefit applications, job applications, attending appointments, fuel and food vouchers. Agencies within the town such as the job centre, social services, CAB, social care, schools, churches and other voluntary agencies refer people to Manna and The Compass. Paid workers and volunteers from The Compass attend each Manna to talk to customers. Through successful grant applications and some generous gifts Manna was able to buy a 40’ high cube shipping container placed in the church car park to provide storage for Manna. We have two large freezers and two upright refrigerators and some racking. The container is insulated, lined and meets electrical insulation, fire and carbon monoxide regulations. Manna was awarded 5 stars in a food safety inspection by Suffolk County Council in February 2023 Manna has no paid staff, but has more than 40 volunteers. Manna does not have a website, Facebook presence or X account. We collect food from M Morrisons which is just 100m away from the church building, the local bread shop and 7 supermarkets through FareShare Go/Foodiverse and Neighbourly.