In reaction to the rising cost of living, churches in North and Mid Wales have declared they would raise funds for a foodbank.
Denbighshire, Flintshire, Wrexham, half of Conwy, and portions of Gwynedd and Powys are included in the Diocese of St. Asaph, one of the six dioceses that comprise the Church in Wales.
This year, the diocese will raise funds for Trussel Trust, which operates eight foodbanks in northeast and mid-Wales in Wrexham, Mold, the Vale of Clwyd, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Pensarn, Oswestry (which covers the Welsh borders), and Welshpool, as well as satellite distribution and collection depots in smaller towns and communities.
Rachael Anderson, the Church Engagement Manager for the Trussell Trust, informed the Diocesan Conference that foodbank demand has increased in recent years while donations have decreased.
She stated, We are seeing more people than ever before having to turn to the Trussell Trust and foodbanks for help. Interestingly we are seeing more and more working people whose incomes just aren’t enough to meet their basis spends. We are hearing terrible stories of children whose feet are hurting as their parents can’t afford shoes for them.
“I think one of the things we have learnt from the pandemic is that people’s circumstances can change at any time, and they can change very quickly. Because the cost of living has been rising very quickly over the past decade, people’s salaries support their lives and there’s not a lot left for saving so when circumstances change it can lead them into desperation very quickly. It’s led to the situation where there are more foodbanks across the UK than there are branches of McDonald’s.”
Numerous churches around the diocese already support the work of the Trussell Trust by hosting foodbanks on church property. The foodbank in St. Mark’s Church in Caia Park, Wrexham, is open every Tuesday from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
The foodbank at St. Peter’s Church in Holywell is open every Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Other churches serve as donation centres for canned goods and other non-perishable foods.
Rachael continued, “The Trussell Trust runs so many campaigns throughout the year that church congregations can back, but the most important thing is to pray. I would encourage churches to pray for our vision that we will live in a world where everyone can afford the essentials and the Trussell Trust no longer needs to exist.”
In addition to collecting food contributions, giving volunteers, fighting for an end to food poverty, and praying for the charity’s work, churches will raise funds through a series of activities.
