Support for Local Food Banks

Updated 05/08/2020

Rotary4foodbanks is a Rotary response to the growing demands on foodbanks in the UK.  Initially operating in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, it is attracting interest from Rotary across the UK.  Whilst it was launched in response to the Covid-19 crisis, it is actually a long-term initiative to deliver a sustainable, cost-effective food sourcing programme for foodbanks.

Derby Club decided to sponsor Padley to the tune of £1,500 funded by a match funded District grant of £750.  This means Padley will receive food up to the value of £1500 funded by ourselves, plus food funded from the general pot – that is money that has been donated from whatever source without it being attached to a specific Food Bank.  This first delivery into Derby was funded from the Rotary Disaster Grant so won’t count against our £1500, a plus for Padley.

It was agreed that Derby Club would also register the other local food banks (not covered by other Clubs) to the scheme meaning they will get food funded from the general pot but won’t have a £1500 reserved amount.  These are;

- Alvaston Churches Together
- Hope Centre Food Bank
- Salvation Army with Littleover Churches Food Bank
- Derby Food Forum - who provide for the 6 food banks set up just for Covid-19 at the Pakistan Community Centre, Aspire, Sinfin Community Centre, Mandela Centre, Derby A2C with Lonny Wilsoncroft Community Centre and West End Community Centre

This enabled us to use the Derby Food Forum Central Hub at St Alkmunds Church on Kedleston Road as the drop off delivery point for all deliveries to Food Banks in Derby, which includes all of the above plus, Doorways – sponsored by Derby Daybreak, and Derby City Mission sponsored by Derby South.  Starting at the next deliveries it will also include Derby and Burton YMCA’s sponsored by Bretby, Burton and Derby Mercia.

All of the food banks then collect their delivery from this central hub.

Padley and the food banks registered by our Club are providing between them in excess of 600 food parcels a week.

Padley and all of the other Food Banks mentioned above will in addition to receiving food from the scheme, be able to take advantage of the Project’s buying power and buy food direct at Rotary negotiated prices.

The first delivery into Derby included a pallet of food each for Padley,  Derby Food Forum,  Alvaston Churches Together and  Doorways and  Derby City Mission. Each pallet comprised;

• 48   boxes of 72 Teabags
• 60   4x132g packs of Tinned Tuna Chunks  (240 tins)
• 60   420g tins plum halves
• 96   230g packs Classic Coffee
• 216 400g tins Ambrosia Devon Custard
• 360 3x 184g packs Health Harvest Sweetcorn (1080 tins)
• 72   57g packs Oatburst Porridge Original

The determination of what to buy is advised by the Trussell Trust based on the contents of a standard food parcel.  Obviously the above are just a few of the items.

The catering manager, for Padley, Chris McNeil, has expressed his appreciation of the support being given by Rotary which is enabling the service to continue. The charity will receive food to the value of £1500 plus the opportunity to purchase food from a supplier at less than retail costs. In 2019 the Padley House catering team served just under 11,000 meals and provided 2,000+ food parcels.

You can support Rotary4Foodbanks through their JustGiving page