The timing of a new food bank in Swansea could hardly have been better.
Birchgrove resident Juliet Rees began discussing the idea with ward councillor Mo Sykes in early January.
A lot of planning later and Birchgrove Community Foodbank is launching.
It operates from Birchgrove Community Centre, and is serving people referred by council-employed local area coordinators, police community support officers and councillors.
These customers can turn up for their packages but will not be allowed to enter the building due to the current social distancing requirements. Or they can pre-book a delivery.
Miss Rees, who works part-time at Tesco Extra in nearby Llansamlet, said people began donating before the coronavirus crisis.
Once these donations began drying up, businesses in the area have offered plenty of produce, in particular CK’s Supermarket, The Fendrod pub, Neath Port Talbot College, the DVLA contact centre in Llansamlet, and Cattle and Co at Brownster’s, Clydach.
“People have been so generous,” said Miss Rees. “I want to thank everybody for their donations so far.”
Any donations, including carrier bags and bags for life, must be left outside the community centre entrance.
Cllr Sykes said the aim was to open the food bank “at least once a day”, including weekends, although there were still some logistics to work through.
She said the Llansamlet ward had around 6,500 properties, and that it was very hard to say at this stage what the demand would end up being.
“I just want to reassure people that they won’t be forgotten,” said Cllr Sykes.
“Reach out and ask for help if you need to - everybody is in the same boat.”
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