GWS food bank helps 400 households in difficult times
DONATIONS have been piling up at the Guernsey Welfare Service food bank from across the island community.
The Christmas period can be a challenging time for anyone in need.
Originally the GWS provided islanders with vouchers and then extra food items during the festive period, gathered from individuals. It has since become a year-round food bank based at Holy Trinity Church.
The GWS was established by the island’s churches in 1886, but a food bank has been running only since 2012.
Collection centres at supermarkets, churches and workplaces accept a range of non-perishable items to be distributed.
Around 400 households currently benefit from the service, which is also able to help young single people as well as those with dependent family members.
Welfare worker Sue Le Friec, one of a group of volunteers, said they soon began to see the benefit of providing a continuous service.
‘The service helps people through difficult times, often when people are at their lowest point. We do see people who go from using the service six times a year to only needing to see us once,’ she said.
Many churches, schools and businesses are participants in the foodbank scheme. A full list can be found at http://guernseywelfare.com/food-bank, which also has updates on the most-needed items.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
