"Your food donation will make all the difference in the world to this family. It's the difference between having a decent nourishing meal instead of just making ends meet."

These words from a support worker helping a family in extreme circumstances show how important Cardiff Foodbank has become since it was set up.

The mum who was helped has four children and had been surviving on just her income support and child benefit for only one child. Her claim for the other three children was held up in the system.

"She couldn't believe that she did not have to pay," said the support worker. "She has bestowed a Thousand Blessings on you."

Rapid progress meeting great need

Cardiff Foodbank was officially brought into being on 29th April 2009 as a franchise of the Trussell Trust, and is part of the National Foodbank Network.

Across Wales and the UK, foodbanks provide emergency food and support to people experiencing crisis in the UK, in partnership with churches and communities. All food is donated by the public and sorted by volunteers.

Frontline care professionals such as social workers issue food vouchers to people experiencing extreme hardship. They receive three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food.

Cardiff Foodbank made its first "supermarket collection" in January 2010. In its first year, it received 19 tons of donated food, and given out food parcels to feed over 1,000 people, almost half of them children. Over 40 different churches and 15 schools in the Cardiff area have donated food.

Partnering across boundaries

The foodbank is also working with eight organisations that give food to the homeless, while 62 partner agencies hold Foodbank vouchers to give out to people in desperate situations. People whose benefits have been delayed or cut, are struggling with debt, or have had to give up work due to sickness have found the foodbank a tremendous help.

Ian, who manages Cardiff Foodbank, along with his wife Karen, says, "The parcels we have been giving to our clients have been very well received. We've had men and women close to tears who were not otherwise sure how they were going to feed their families."

The foodbank is making an impact among those working with the poor, too. "One support worker was so taken by the welcome and love in a centre that he has organised a collection in his Social Services team," says Ian.

"Agencies and Support Workers realise we give out quality food, not just the 'value' cheapest goods. They tell us that without the Foodbank, many of their clients would have to resort to crime to get food to eat."

Gweini helped the Cardiff Foodbank get established. "It has been brilliant for networking," says Ian."It has enabled us to be noticed by churches and find people within all kinds of churches who are passionate about serving those in need. They were a vital 'sounding board' for ideas in the setting up stages, and we are grateful for their support."

Partnership with churches

Debbie from City Temple in Cardiff got involved when she heard about children scavenging food from rubbish bins in Cardiff because they were hungry.

"I was so shocked by this," she says."This is stuff you here about in third world countries. I never ever expected to here that about in our city. I was appalled."

Debbie is one of the team leaders and works every other week in the City Temple distribution centre. "People who call in to us are welcomed in with a smile and offered a cuppa. They give us their voucher and a team member puts food together for them".

"The people we support may feel embarrassed, so we try to ease this as much as possible. We put their food into bags that are the same so it looks as if they've been shopping themselves.

"We are welcoming people who are possibly at their lowest ebb, but our team all have a genuine heart for people, and God will use that."

Chris and Vicky Mackinlay are based in Rhiwbina Baptist Church in Cardiff. They encourage people to donate food items on a regular basis and help at regular supermarket collections. "They have also organised a donation service that was advertised to the local community and promoted the foodbank at the church's weekly community kids club."

"A request for helpers was made at our church during a meeting and my wife and I felt that this would be a great opportunity to serve people in our city" explains Chris. "We felt it made total sense that the people of Cardiff helped people in Cardiff.  There are so many reasons why people are in financial crisis today and who knows, it could be us next!

"The church has responded well to the foodbank. The church leaders have been extremely supportive and often refer to it from the 'front'." 

"There are lots of people in the church who have caring hearts who want to serve the community around them but don't always have an outlet for that. The foodbank is one such way that they can do this.  From donating a food item, assisting at a supermarket collection day, organising collections in your work place or volunteering to pack boxes at the warehouse, people can be involved."

"It is also a fantastic way to be a light and a witness in this city."

Gweini helped the Cardiff Foodbank build relationships with churches. "Gweini has been brilliant for networking," says Ian Purcell. "It has enabled us to be noticed by churches and find people within all kinds of churches who are passionate about serving those in need. They were a vital 'sounding board' for ideas in the setting up stages, and we are grateful for their support."

Cardiff Foodbank is just one of a number of Foodbanks that are springing up throughout Wales - see http://www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects for more information.

Fighting Hidden Hunger : Restoring Hope
Brwydro Newyn Cudd - Adfer Gobaith.

Mobile: 07891 177 700

Email: info [at] cardifffoodbank [dot] org [dot] uk

Web: www.cardifffoodbank.org.uk