This is the third year in a row WHA has chosen to support the charity which feeds people in crisis from all across the borough of Warrington.
Since it opened in 2012, foodbank usage in Warrington has increased year on year with 46,000 meals distributed in 2018. Nationally, 1.6bn food parcels were given out by Trussell Trust foodbanks last year.
David McDonald, Warrington Foodbank Project Manager, said: “”We are delighted WHA have nominated us their charity of the year again for 2019-20.
“With rising prices and low incomes, many people are living on the edge. It takes just one unforeseen thing to happen and people are left with nowhere to turn except us. Usage is already up 15 per cent this year and this trend shows no sign of diminishing.”
Lynn Woodger, WHA customer services officer who organises our fundraising activities, said: “The whole office is committed to helping the Foodbank. We raised money throughout the year by a WHA tuckshop, staff running the English Half Marathon, and dress down Fridays among another things. Six times a year we also drop food donations collected in the offices down to the foodbank.”
The Foodbank posts weekly what items are needed urgently on its website. Half of the WHA donation will go towards helping make up this shortfall of vital items.
The other £450 will support the conversion of a warehouse at Tanning Court, near Riverside Retail Park, so the foodbank will be able to see twice as many people as it can in its current home at Friars Green Methodist Church.
David said: “Without the generous people of Warrington – the office collections and donations at supermarkets – we wouldn’t exist. But we shouldn’t need to exist at all. That 35% of our food needs to go to children, through breakfast clubs and over the holidays when they won’t be getting their free school lunches, is appalling in the 21st century.”
Warrington Foodbank works on a referral basis with almost 100 local community organisations across Warrington providing food vouchers – including Warrington Housing Association.
WHA tenants can get behind the cause by donating items at our donation points at our head office, any of our sheltered accommodation schemes or at the LifeTime centre at The Gateway.
