Granted charitable status but now in need of a new home
When the Meon Valley Food Bank was first set up in early 2015 no one could have foreseen the growth in demand for the service provided by food banks. Certainly, the arrival of coronavirus was not in anyone’s mind.
Over the years we have continued to operate to the highest professional standards but have felt for some time that it would be reassuring to all our referral agencies and donors if we could formalise our position by obtaining charitable status. We are delighted that on the 15th July the Charity Commission granted this.
We are in a strong position to continue to support individuals and families in need. Throughout these unprecedented times our local communities have provided us with donations of food and gifts of money that have more than kept pace with the significant increase in demand for our service.
We have come a long way since 2015 and have been fortunate to have the support of Bishops Waltham Youth Club whose premises we use. But we are now faced with the biggest challenge yet. The Youth Hall along with the adjacent buildings are to be redeveloped once planning consent has been granted and we will urgently need a new home.
A stand-alone property in Bishops Waltham seems unlikely but maybe there is a business who would consider subletting part of their building to us? Please contact us if you can help.
For some the idea of a food bank in the Meon Valley just doesn’t seem right but as a measure of the reality of food poverty in our area, in June and July we provided food to 79 families and individuals. So long as the need is there, we will continue to offer this much needed support.