Wellesbourne’s foodbank is celebrating one year of working with local extra care housing scheme Ettington Lodge.
Ettington Lodge, which is managed by Orbit, responded to an appeal in April last year from the foodbank who were seeking extra storage space for emergency food parcels.
A disused space at Ettington Lodge was given a make-over by Orbit’s contractor partner, Fortem, who ensured that the area was fit for purpose. Since then, the room has been used to collect the supplies which are then distributed to people in need in Wellesbourne and the surrounding villages.
In the last year the foodbank, which is a branch of the Fosse Foodbank and affiliated to the Trussell Trust, delivered food parcels to 108 homes, feeding 124 adults and 111 children.
Jayne Turvey, Independent Living Scheme Manager for Orbit said: “I’m really proud that we have been able to support the foodbank and provide them with the extra storage that they needed to get help to people in our community who need it most.”
Ettington Lodge is an extra care housing scheme for the over 55s, offering 50, one and two-bedroom bungalows and apartments with the benefit of renting your own home, free from worries of outside maintenance and gardening but still providing private, landscaped gardens and communal areas to enjoy. All homes have their own front door giving customers a completely independent lifestyle, with the opportunity to socialise and get involved with the community if they wish. Extra care and support are available to them should their needs and requirements change over time.
Associate Minister at St Peter’s Church in Wellesbourne, Rev Wendy Biddington, who is heavily involved with the foodbank said: “The last year has been a really challenging time for many people and the current cost of living crisis continues to put people under increasing pressure. The store room at Ettington Lodge, which enables us to make up the emergency food boxes, has meant we’re able to be very responsive to a call out 24/7. We work very closely with the Lions and Medical Centre in the village as well as many of the statutory and voluntary organisations locally. Because of this networking not only does foodbank bring food relief but also means we can contact things like the furniture and linen bank and community fund (run by St Peter’s Church) to assist with further aid where required. The linen bank is part of the storage space in the room at Ettington Lodge. We are really grateful to Orbit and to Jayne for the close working relationship we have and it’s so lovely to be getting to know some of the residents when we pop in and out.”
Anyone wishing to donate non-perishable and toiletry items to Fosse Foodbank can do so via the various collection points around the village, including those at the Co-op, Sainsbury’s, the Chapel and St Peter’s Church.
Please note: Members of the public must not visit Ettington Lodge to deliver / collect foodbank parcels as it is a local storage facility only for Fosse Foodbank, Wellesbourne branch.