We would really have struggled this week without the support of Green Motion. Our van was damaged earlier in the year by persons unknown and they left a large scratch and dent down the side of the van. I am really hoping it was not deliberate and that they did not realise they had done it! However, we couldn’t get it repaired due to lockdown until this week.
Since this crisis began, we have seen a doubling of people coming forward to request our support. We currently operate 10 hubs where the community can obtain an emergency food parcel 6 days a week. We support 13 schools and Leicester college student support services, to ensure that their pupils who receive free school meals, and are on the pupil premium, are not going without food. We have now incorporated a delivery service for our clients that are self-isolating or struggle to get out to one of our hubs.
We have been asked by Blaby District and Oadby and Wigston councils to support them with their community hubs. We have been approached by councillors from Eyres Monsell estate, Knighton and Belgrave wards to support their vulnerable residents. We support disadvantaged young people in the YMCA and Park lodge hostels and partner with other charities to ensure there is no food waste and that food is distributed quickly to those who desperately need it. To this end, we have instigated call handling with 4 volunteers working from their homes on laptops and mobile phones. We are ensuring that food and emergency provision goes to those that really need it. We operate an electronic voucher scheme and people are asked a few simple questions to ensure that we are the best-placed service to support them. The vouchers also enable us to ensure food is being allocated fairly and maintain stock levels.
To manage the demand, we have volunteers sorting and packing food 5 days a week. Our van is out every day collecting and distributing donations. We have 5 volunteer drivers and British gas staff and vehicles delivering food parcels to people’s homes. Our call operators work shifts to provide a 7 day a week enquiry service.
For the first two weeks of the crisis, we saw a decline in people donating food items due to the stores having to implement restrictions. To this end, we have had to purchase over £2500 to date on essential items, to ensure the emergency parcels have a balanced nutritious content for breakfast, lunch and tea for at least 3 days. We have so far distributed 1979 emergency food boxes to our hubs and schools and 518 emergency boxes to individual homes. This is an increase of over 200% on this time last year.
LSFB has always operated on the premise that the food we distribute is an emergency provision and that we are here to lift people out of poverty. We operate an advice and advocacy service to assist clients with the issues that brought them to us in the first place. During this crisis, we are still operating this service if somewhat restricted to phone. We feel this is an essential service to empower people to take charge of their own lives and see hope and a future. This service has also proved to be a vital link between those in the community who are vulnerable and statutory services. We are the eyes and ears on the ground that can spot signs of abuse and neglect and alert and signpost people to the most appropriate service to ensure everyone is safeguarded.
Thank you @GreenMotionInternational for helping us to keep delivering and giving hope to our community.
