Burleydam Women's Institute

Although he was about to retire as Chairman of the Whitchurch Food Bank, Alan Scutt took the time to tell members of Burleydam W I about a food bank, and it’s organisation.

One might be forgiven for thinking that it is a simple matter of food in, and food out,
but it is far from simple as we were told by Alan. Whitchurch Food Bank was born out of the visits to the St Akhunds Rectory by needy people of the town, asking for help. The then Rector, Judy Hunt, took the problem to a meeting of the group called ‘Churches together’ which is made up of the 4 Whitchurch churches, a steering group was set up and after much research, time and discussion the Whitchurch food bank was founded, run by Alan and his wife, Chris, with many volunteers to help.

Obviously premises were needed, and the Bargates hall was offered as suitable, with 2 halls, a kitchen and a store room. Donations of tinned and packaged food were asked for from the public, the local supermarkets, schools and local organisations. Social workers, doctors, schools were asked to nominate families and homeless individuals who were living below the poverty line and would benefit from food donations. The recipients were initially issued with a red food voucher (but now electronically) which they presented at Bargates on Tuesday or Friday morning between 10 and 12am and were given a bag of food, according to the number in the family, which would cover 2 meals per day for a week.

However, when they arrive, they are greeted by 2 volunteers’ and invited to have a cup of coffee and a chat at a table set with a cloth and flowers, when other help and advice may be given. Alan gave us so much more about the numbers of volunteers, 40, who weighed, labelled and sorted the donations, the provision of extra food and activities in the school holidays, the extra efforts made to make Christmas special and many other occasions of crisis in some homes in the town. Alan was thanked by Joan.

The competition was for the most out of date item in your kitchen cupboard. The Wimer was Liz, with a jar of rennet dated 1992, 2 nd was Joan with a bottle of red wine dated 1997, and 3 rd was Chris whose item was quite new in 2014! In the business, names for the tour of Combermere Abbey, for the 80 th birthday meeting on July 1 st were taken and appeared to number 16. The final cost to be paid by June 24 th . 2 members had been on the Malbank trip to the Black Country Museum and reported back with photos for the website. The bowls practice and game against Wrenbury was discussed and 4 people volunteered, the guided tour of Nantwich is at the end of June as is the visit to Wollerton Hall Gardens. A busy time!

The August meeting is on the 5th when Martin Haycocks will tell us about ‘My life as a chimney Sweep’.

New members and visitors are always welcome.