Volunteers launching new village food bank delivered fantastic boost by government

Heckington Village Magazine is launching the Heckington Living Community Larder from May 1 and has just announced it is to be given two trolley-loads of food a week funded by the government to kick-start it.

The revamped magazine team led by chairman Andy Mellett-Brown has already expanded its offering to the village during the coronavirus emergency by opening up and running Heckington Living Community Radio online, to help mitigate some of the effects of social isolation and to raise people’s spirits.

But Andy said they realised they may need to do even more: “We have also been aware that there are people in the village who are suffering due to loss of income, either because they’ve been laid off, lost their jobs or are unable to continue their business (and for a host of other reasons).”

He said: “While the Government has made funds available to some, help is not available or easily accessible to everyone and/or has been slow to come through. There was, prior to the coronavirus emergency, already people in the village who were struggling financially and, in particular, to put food on their table.”

Andy said: “We know there is a need from people calling into the radio and telling us their stories, but we don’t know what demand there will be until Friday.

“People imagine food banks usually support the unemployed, but this time it is people such as the self-employed who find their salaries disappear overnight and although there is grant funding a lot of people are not eligible or money is slow in coming.”

Andy said: “We have been trying to support initiatives in the village to address this, but for one reason or another, plans have not advanced as we had hoped. Consequently, we have decided to act by establishing a community larder in Heckington at the Village Hall to provide food/groceries aid to people in need. This is planned to open this Friday, under Sue Tucker’s management. Sue is our Operations Manager.”

Initial seed funding has been provided from magazine funds and they have also received a significant donation from Sleaford and District Lions Club, for which Andy said they are very grateful.

Andy said they had raised the money to stock the larder initially, but revealed: “If demand is there we have to keep that stock filled up and where do you find £2,000 every week?

“Thankfully Fairshare, the wholesaler that supplies food banks nationally is getting government funding for 150kg of food each week until the end of June for each food bank.”

He added: “We would also like to thank Millview Medical Practice for their guidance and support, Heckington Village Hall, who have been extremely helpful and The Windmill Shop. Our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported us to date.”

Many people have already come forward with offers to staff the food bank or donate food, but he said they will need a lot more donations of dry goods - cans, boxes, packets and long-life items. Donations can be delivered to Sue Tucker at the village hall from May 1. Full social distancing measures are in place to ensure your safety when delivering any items that you wish to donate.

They will also need more volunteers to staff the larder when it is open. They can only accept volunteers who do not have underlying health issues, and who are fit and well.

He insisted: “We will be implementing strong infection control measures, including distancing arrangements and will be operating under tight procedures to which all volunteers will need to be able to adhere. We have taken careful advice on this.”

If you think you may be able to help, contact Sue Tucker via their Heckington Living Facebook pages or email: [email protected] or call 07769 342 995.

Although the Sleaford New Life Community Larder already serves Sleaford and the surrounding area, Sue said they are not trying to replace it, explaining: “They are currently working to their maximum and beyond, they have seen an increase of seven times their normal requirement. We need to come together as the fab community in Heckington that we are and support our own.”

If you are in need of help, then the Community Larder will open for the first time on Friday May 1, between 12noon and 3pm at Heckington Village Hall and then every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the same times. All those with a need will be welcome, but the team will need to see evidence of your ID/address as this service is only available to people from Heckington, East Heckington, Great Hale and Little Hale.