20/12/2022
Instead of our usual Christmas card, this year we made the decision to donate to our local Foodbank. This is a message from their CEO:
This is David Logan here, CEO at Vineyard Community and Richmond Foodbank.
I wanted to simply get in touch again to say thank you to you for your generous and difference-making financial support to our work in 2022, particularly throughout the last few months when our services have been more needed than weāve ever seen before.
Your support has helped us at a time when, as you know, the need and vulnerability of people has sharply risen in our area and across the borough and where we have adapted and redeveloped our services once again to meet the demand.
As well as it being a difficult time for local people it is also a challenging time for us as we have understandably seen a significant drop in individual and community financial donations due to how the crisis is impacting on peopleās circumstances. This makes your support all the more empowering, impacting and appreciated.
In the last 12 months, through our daily crisis services we have helped 64 people experiencing homelessness move into accommodation, given daily crisis drop-in support to 418 people experiencing complex crisis, provided emergency food for 5,959 people (local families and individuals) experiencing food poverty, and provided aid for 677 local Ukrainian refugees and their hosts as we helped coordinate a borough-wide collaboration with other local community groups.
Here is a short story of a woman who visited us for help last week that sums up the new need we have been meeting and supporting people through along with our 2022 Christmas Appeal, which we would really appreciate you sharing with anyone you think might be willing to support us with timely and vital financial help in the same way that you so generously have.
Vineyard Community & Christmas Foodbank Christmas Appeal 2022
https://www.justgiving.com/page/vineyardcommunity
Sarahās Story
āLast year I donated to foodbank. This year me and my kids need foodbank. Not being able to do Santa this year hurts but having food to put on the table makes me so happy!ā ā Sarah
Sarahās place of work closed early in 2022 and left her without a job. Since then, her benefits have covered less and less of the costs for her and her five children as all of her bills, food costs, and rent have increased over the year, leaving her in desperate need this Christmas time as a result of the cost-of-living crisis. Sarah was feeling low and anxious about needing to visit us in her emergency and ask for free food but left our new cost-of-living crisis response services feeling sheād been warmly welcomed and well looked after, with a spring in her step and some packed grocery bags to take home to her children! The idea is that when you visit us here at Vineyard Community & Richmond Foodbank, you leave with your circumstances changed and with the spark of hope in your heart!ā
Thank you from everyone here at Vineyard Community and Richmond Foodbank for making it possible for us to continue to bring light, hope, and change to local families and individuals in their darkest hours.