Church launches SOS appeal for £10k after demand on food bank doubles

Since lockdown, the number of families requiring the support of the food bank have doubled - along with donations of supplies.

However, as demand increases, space at the current facility is becoming increasingly a problem - and, according to the church's Judith Coe, expansion plans already in place will not happen soon enough.

In February, Spilsby Christian Fellowship was granted planning permission for an extension at the side and rear of the present church building to provide additional storage for uniform and food banks, and an additional small meeting space.

It was intended that the extension - estimated in total to cost £120,000 - would be funded through the church's Refurb and Rebuild Fundraising Campaign, for which a number of events were planned, including a rummage sale in March

Covid-19 restrictions put a halt to fundraising and also resulted in the cancellation of group meetings that brought in an income.

"We are appealing to the local public to get behind us and offer their support in making donations to help Spilsby Christian Fellowship continue to support local individuals and families," said Judith, who with church volunteers also supports the annual Skegness Standard old people's Christmas lunch in the town.

"As part of our Refurb and Rebuild project, we need to extend the current church building at a cost of more than £10,000.

"Over the last 18 months we have tried a number of fundraising events..but Covid has affected these efforts and time is running out..

"This is because due to planning constraints our Community Building - the non permanent portacabin next to the church - must be removed from the site by December.

"In addition, we need the extra space as the demand on our Food Bank have doubled during the pandemic.

"Fortunately donations to the food bank have doubled, too, but we are seeing new people who have been impacted by the pandemic either because they were furloughed or isolated and now just want to come and talk.

"There are still some families who we know are struggling who we are delivering food parcels to.

"We have also been producing activity packs for our youth groups - including popular baking packs thanks to a donation by Tesco's Pots of Fun fund - so we have been having fun too in spite of not being about to run the groups or meet as we did."

This extended space will also allow the church to provide:

- Support for vulnerable families

- Activity sessions and Covid activity packs

- Group support

- Training sessions,

- Toddler, children and youth groups,

- Intergenerational groups

- Support to other local charities and groups.

"Without this space we will struggle to provide the support as we do now - and we believe in the current climate this would be a major loss to the local area," said Judith.

"Over the past three months, as well as the demand on the food bank, we have also witnessed a doubling of users at our school uniform bank - partly because parents can't afford new ones and also because of the uncertainty in case schools go beck into lockdown.

"More families are needing support due to stress and mental health issues and parents are keen for our support groups to recommence - if only on a very small group basis.

"There is great fear in people, which is sad.

"All we want to do is make life a little easier for them."

If you are interested in buying the portacabin, message Spilsby Christian Fellowship on their Facebook page. To donate to the fund, visit Spilsby Christian Fellowship on https://justgiving.com/campaign/SCFRebuildRefurb