Churches Together in the Northallerton Area
In Zion URC Church Hall • Every Monday • 4pm – 6pm
Hambleton FoodShare is a community partnership between Northallerton Churches Together, Broadacres Housing Association, North Yorkshire County Council and Hambleton District Council
We aim to provide a three day emergency food parcel to people in temporary financial crisis to prevent them from having to go hungry because of their various circumstances. This could be because they have lost their job, become incapacitated or the result of a delay in benefit payments. We also often see folk who are in work but can be in difficulties should their hours for reduced for example. The introduction of benefit changes by the Government has had an impact on many people and sadly, continues to do so.
The volunteer-led Foodshare is operating from Zion United Reformed Church Hall, found between Swans jewelers and Kitsons butchers, off Northallerton High Street, every Monday between 4pm and 6pm.
To receive emergency food help customers are welcome to come along on the first occasion to foodshare. After the first attendance folk are asked to obtain a voucher for further parcels. These can be obtained from one of our various referring agencies such as: Citizens Advice Bureau, Broadacres Housing Association, Hambleton District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, Jubilee debt advice and North Yorkshire Horizons.
The scheme now has over 80 volunteers who are involved in a myriad of ways including collecting, organising the storage and distribution of the food as well as making the delicious homemade soup for the weekly soup and roll fundraiser lunches held each Wednesdays 12 noon -1.30pm in Zion United Reform Church. Up to 40 food parcels are distributed each week and in the period since the scheme was launched in March 2013 over 2,700 parcels have been given out.
The Chair of Hambleton Foodshare, the Reverend Michael Webster from Northallerton Methodist Church said “The need to provide food for those in our community who are faced with a sudden crisis and do not have the money to feed themselves, has prompted a very generous response. Such a crisis is particularly tragic for families. The customers we have already received demonstrate that there is a need even in an apparently prosperous town such as Northallerton. Sadly this need is expected to be with us for the foreseeable future and help for FoodShare will always be welcome.”
FoodShare is a wonderful example of the community working together. Please visit our website for further information and ways to help at:
www.hambletonfoodshare.org.uk
Thank you to all who assist in any way.