Macclesfield: Catching up with Silklife Foodbank on National Foodbank Day
By Alex Greensmith
6th Sep 2024 | Local News
It is National Foodbank Day today.
So we went to Silklife Foodbank, located inside Silklife Church on George Street, for a catch up.
Silklife Foodbank was established in 2010, but has grown exponentially since the pandemic.
For example, they went from 15 volunteers in early 2020, to 70 volunteers in total today.
Dan Blackman has been lead of Silklife Foodbank since 2020.
"Everything donated here is from the public purse," said Dan.
"Food parcel collection works via a referral.
"People get two visits and then a 12 week break is imposed, to stop food bank reliance
"We don't want to create a situation where people become reliant on food banks.
"We work with the agency about how we are moving our client forward, having a plan in the long term for them."
4500 people used Silklife Foodbank last year. Silklife Foodbank logged an incredible 11,500 volunteer hours per year.
Overall, Silklife Foodbank supported the community providing £110,000 worth of product (at the basic buy back value) to those in need.
New initiatives saw the introduction of a new ethnic food bank, which offers African food parcels in association with fellow local good cause Pearls of Cheshire.
"One of the things that is really praised is the meal planner," told Dan.
"Every bag has base content with a meal planner.
"We also include a signposting leaflet as well, which not only promotes our Community Hub held every Wednesday, but also further food support in our area like Cre8 Macclesfield and Cheshire Streetwise.
"We are part of the Macclesfield Food Partnership Programme. So we don't do expiring fresh food or pet food but we will signpost them to organisations like One Project and Windyway Trust Pet Foodbank.
"We can also support people with gluten free, lactose free, vegetarian and vegan parcels."
Donations can be made during the week, but it is not just canned and longlife food that Silklife Foodbank can offer to the community.
It has also become common to donate toiletries, baby products and clothes.
"Right now, we really need sleeping bags," revealed Dan.
"This is because we also do homeless parcels. If you are living on the street and have no cooking equipment whatsoever we have a parcel that has cold food, toiletries, canned food with ring pull.
"The homeless parcel has even got screw cap milk so once you've used it, you can put it back on. You don't need any kettle or gas at all for that.
"The homeless parcel comes in an IKEA bag, which can also be used as insulation when empty.
"We also do a kettle bag in the winter for the homeless, to keep warm.
"We also really need preloved men's clothing too.
"We are also low on brand new underwear for men and women too.
"Another thing people might not think about donating is a nail clipper.
"For homeless people to get a pair of toenail clippers is really a life-changer."
Silklife Foodbank works in tandem with Silklife Church, and 110 people still come to the church on a Sunday - with many members of the congregation donating.
Despite the ongoing cost of living crisis, Macclesfield's community spirit in supporting the food bank persists, with some locals - including on Nub News visit - even donating on their birthday.
Every inch of the space is used, a fact which has gotten more challenging this summer.
"We recently lost our additional storage space," added Dan.
"Anytime Fitness [of Duke Street] used to let us use storage space there for free. But we have lost this with the closure of Anytime Fitness [in June 2024].
"So if someone has somewhere with roller shutters, and a van can pull up where we can secure food safely and it's pest-free, we would love to hear from you.
"We used to have a stockpile for three months of referrals, or 600 families.
"But since losing that space, if all donations stopped, or really slowed down, we would probably only have a month's worth.
"And people are finding it harder to donate.
"Some that were donating are now using the foodbank as well."
To really get a feel on how Silklife Foodbank is helping those in need, why not volunteer at their weekly Community Hub event held every Wednesday from 10am to 12pm.
It offers a warm space and support group for adults only.
The two-hour get-together provides free hot drinks and light food, recreation and free advice from like-minded organisations.
"40 rough sleepers come in on a Wednesday morning for food, signposting and recreation," shared Dan.
"Citizens Advice are also coming in every Wednesday morning.
"And we have started offering a counsellor, with all sessions currently booked up.
"So we are not just feeding people. We are helping people as well."
Silklife Foodbank also hold sessions for Ukraine Aid, and substance recovery service Change Grow Live.
As part of National Foodbank Day, Silklife Foodbank will host a Big Corporate Quiz, for companies that support the charity.
But it is not just the business community that Dan wants to thank.
"COVID really changed things for us," he recalled.
"There was queues of cars during lockdown delivering food in the first few months.
"Up and down the country food banks were closing down as senior citizens were told to isolate, so basically we had no staff.
"Fallibroome Academy lent 40 sixth formers over three months during lockdown to keep it going.
"It was a saving grace. If it wasn't for Fallibroome we wouldn't be here today.
"We still have an ongoing relationship with them with two volunteers per year. So thank you to them.
"And indeed, thank you to everyone in Macclesfield for their support."
You can bring your donations to Silklife Foodbank on Tuesdays and Fridays, between 9:30am and 11:30am.
Outside those hours, donation points can be found across Macclesfield, with a full list available to read HERE.
Macclesfield: You can follow Silklife Foodbank on social media.
Direct monetary donations can also be made HERE.
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