FOODBANK

Kingsbridge Foodbank run by Gerri Messer

Transcript

00:00Tell us a little bit about a potted history of the food bank.

00:04So it started originally in 2012, changed dramatically in 2020 when Covid started.

00:11We were at Horizon Centre, moved to the Scout Hall for a few weeks

00:16and then we moved into where we are now currently, the Avon Centre.

00:21The owner, bless his heart, has been amazing.

00:24He could have not let us stay but he has been so supportive.

00:30Four years, yeah. He's helped us out through that time too.

00:34So the next chapter is about to open.

00:37What are you doing as far as finding a new place?

00:40We're on the lookout. We're always on the lookout.

00:42We've been on the lookout for the whole of the last four years.

00:46We've not been rushed into anything.

00:49We're not being rushed into anything now

00:52but it would be good to make routes and finalise everything

00:56and have a permanent home for the food bank at last.

00:59So as far as the future of the food bank is concerned, what does it look like to you?

01:06At some point I'd like it to slow down but I don't see that happening.

01:10I do see the services we're providing grow every day

01:15and we just flex to work with it and what we can

01:21and who we can at the time.

01:23And how many clients do you have roughly?

01:24Around 450 people that we actually feed.

01:28So if somebody comes along here, what sort of things would they have or be able to have?

01:34They'd be able to have dry groceries, tins and packets of long life food

01:40but we also have fresh eggs, fresh bread, fresh milk

01:44which we pay for from donations from the general public.

01:48We also give them fresh fruit and vegetables which many other food banks aren't able to do

01:53again because we get such a substantial support from our community.

01:56Are you able to provide pet foods or anything like that?

01:59Yes we do, we've got cat and dog food and rabbit food and guinea pig food.

02:05So we can look after those two.

02:06We're very grateful for the support that we've had from everyone up until now.

02:10We were hoping it would have got easier but it's just getting harder

02:14and just continue to support us as much as you can.

02:17So how would the government do a bit towards that direction as well?

02:22I'd like to think so but I quite like us being an independent charity because we can do more.