Wow where has that time gone? I remember putting the first tins on our first bit of racking in one of our little rooms in the office with Jackie. I think we counted 10 tins of baked beans now we have more than 10 crates of bake beans in the store!
Never did we ever remotely consider that 10 years down the line we would still be here. We are bigger than ever, offering more and more support to our community with the vision to create a poverty-free future for our community as we look towards one day being able to close the foodbank.
Looking back, we couldn’t have predicted what was going to happen with the rise in the cost of living plus many things leading up to it. Sadly, the impact of these things means that needs are rising and our work is more important than ever. We still have the mission to close the foodbank and end poverty in our community, but that is not going to happen this year. So, while we are still here, we will challenge what is happening and support local people to rebuild their lives and have hope for the future.
To recognise the impact of what we have done we are holding a fundraising event at Epsom racecourse in November. It is definitely not a celebration but a mark of appreciation of all that has happened, all we do and the invaluable support of so many people in or community who donate food, resources and funds. Especially our group of amazing volunteers who are our lifeline and keep it all going.
We are holding a Gala Fundraising Dinner to acknowledge that we are still here, a decade on, still serving those in our communities who need emergency food support and more.
