The winter foodbank stock-up

After a friend’s simple donation of advent calendars to the Rochdale Foodbank, local resident Gemma Glinski came to realise how empty the bank was – so she decided to take action and make a change.

Collecting money from a fundraiser held on a Facebook page, Gemma and her friend, Jan Walker, were able to collect £180 in total, as well as at least 12 food bags which she had collected to be donated to the local foodbank, with donations from the public who wished to help the cause.

Gemma said: “We decided to raise awareness and funds for Rochdale Foodbank after Jan donated some calendars and saw how empty the shelves were.

“We created a status asking people for donations and then went to Aldi and used all the money we raised to fill the shelves at the foodbank.

“Friends and family helped put everything together, and it all started from there.”

 

 

With the large amount of money raised, Gemma and Jan embarked upon a large food shop, ensuring the foodbank had its shelves stocked up for the winter, to help make sure that nobody goes hungry during the cold months surrounding the Christmas season.

Rochdale Foodbank provides three-days’ worth of goods to those in need, identified by one of over 130 agencies in Rochdale.

Typically receiving most donations during harvest and at Christmas, donations received by the foodbank must last all year so there is enough to go around.

Last year, more than 6,600 three-day emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis at Rochdale Foodbank, providing more than 2,200 children with provisions.

If you wish to donate to the foodbank during the harsher colder months, donations for Rochdale Foodbank can be made at:

• Tesco, Silk Street, Sudden, Rochdale, OL11 3ER 
• All of the borough’s libraries
• Many of the borough’s churches
• Co-op stores at Cutgate, Littleborough and Milnrow
• At the back of Rochdale Foodbank on South Parade, Rochdale, OL16 1LR - Opening hours are 11am – 12.45pm Monday to Friday. A member of staff will greet you and make sure your donation is safely booked in.

Collection of larger donations can be arranged by contacting Dave Hill: 07922 658346