Dorchester Foodbank

DORCHESTER’S FOODBANK - Many in our community have been hit by the economic downturn. Anecdotal reports from various agencies and charitable organisations confirm that local people are experiencing crises when money runs out and their families go hungry.

Dorchester’s Foodbank will be a store of non-perishable, in-date basic food. Supplies will be given to families & individuals in crisis referred to the Foodbank by recognised people or agencies (which Dorchester Community Church is one). Food provided will be enough to sustain them for three days.

The Foodbank will also refer recipients on to appropriate statutory or voluntary agencies. The direction of onward referral will reflect the underlying causes of the crisis. While this being addressed support may be repeated for a limited period.

Initially, it is anticipated that the Foodbank will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10.30am – 12.30pm. An on-call system will make the Foodbank accessible to those who cannot visit during the normal opening hours.

The food parcels will be distributed from The Dorford Centre in the first instance. Later, if the need grows, other churches and community groups may be invited to become part of a networked organisation providing the service.

In our church, members of the Community Action Group will hold the vouchers which enable people to collect food parcels from Dorchester’s Foodbank. Please speak to one of them if you know someone who would benefit from this service.

Dorchester’s Foodbank also will gratefully receive donations of food such as: Milk (UHT or powdered); Cereal; Fruit juice (carton); Pasta/rice; Lentils and chickpeas; Pasta sauces; Rice/sponge pudding (tinned); Tinned vegetables; Teabags & small jars of coffee; Instant mash potato; Tinned meat/fish; Tinned fruit; Sugar; Biscuits or snack bars; Toilet rolls & toiletries; Tomato ketchup; Cooking oil.

For further information please email: