Cumbria’s High Sheriff has paid a visit to a Penrith food bank to see what life is like for those on the front lines of the cost of living crisis.
The visit was hosted by The Salvation Army, whose community support worker Heather Watson, gave insight into a typical day at the centre.
Heather showed the High Sheriff, Alan McViety, what items go into a food parcel and demonstrated the intensity of referrals they are receiving on a weekly basis as more people sink into poverty.
During the worst cost of living crisis for a generation, the High Sheriff spoke to volunteers at the food bank, saw how the food bank is stocked and operates and chatted to people who were attending the church’s weekly coffee morning and lunch club. He said: “I was grateful for The Salvation Army hosting my wife and I at the Penrith church.
“My overall impression was that The Salvation Army in Penrith provides a safe place for anyone in need in a non-judgemental and compassionate way. I was particularly impressed by the premises and the services that are available to the community, especially the much-needed food bank.”
The Salvation Army recently revealed the extent of its food bank activity in Penrith, with more than 1,211 referrals in the month of April alone, when the energy price cap rocketed around the country.
Major Carole Donaldson, church leader of The Salvation Army in Penrith said: “We really appreciated Mr McViety and his wife, Marie, taking the time out of their busy schedule to come and see what we do to help the most vulnerable members of our local community and chat to some of our volunteers. Our food bank is a big support to many and something that we couldn’t run without the help of volunteers, so a high profile visit certainly boosts morale.
“The cost of living crisis is affecting all areas of our local communities and we’re here to help and offer support to anyone in need, whether that is through our food bank, our coffee mornings offering a warm and safe place to be or just via our listening ear. We’re here to help, we’re here to serve.”
The Salvation Army in Penrith hosts a range of provisions and activities locally including coffee mornings, parent and toddler mornings and the food bank which operates on a referral basis and runs off donations.
If you want to donate food to the foodbank, the drop off points are located at Booths, Penrith, Morrisons Penrith, both located on Brunswick Road, and the church and community centre on Hunters Lane, Tuesday to Friday between 10 to 2.30pm.
