The Somer Valley Foodbank continues to provide food and signposting advice to the people of this area, with distribution centres in Midsomer Norton (Salvation Army Hall, open on Monday 8th May 12-2pm), Radstock (St Nicholas Tearooms), Peasedown (Peasedown Methodist Church) and Paulton (The Cellar, under the Methodist Church).

We have seen more than 30% increase in demand since the start of the year, which means the cost of living crisis is beginning to affect more and more people. This has therefore put a great strain on our stock levels and although we can still meet the demand our need for donations has increased. We have also started to buy in stock. Therefore we would be very grateful if people could donate an item from our most wanted list whenever they shop. The list is on the front door of Tesco and Sainsbury’s and on the website.

Somer Valley Foodbank needs the following items:

Donations can be left at the following places; All Churches on Sunday am, just before or after a service, The Hive, Peasedown weekdays (through main doors, by the door to the Post Office), the Salvation Army Hall, Midsomer Norton, Mondays between 10 – 11am, St Nicholas Church Centre Radstock, weekdays 9 – 3pm in the foyer.

We are also hoping to hold a one day collection in Tesco during the next few months, when we will hand out shopping lists to help people choose the correct items that we need to replenish stocks. Please keep an eye out for us.

The other news is that we have been adopted by Thatcher + Hallam as their charity of the year and we are tremendously grateful and thankful for their support. We are looking forward to working with them to help those in need in this area.

If anyone has any questions or wants to know anything about the foodbank then they can email on: [email protected].

As always we are grateful to all those who support us in our efforts to help people and we know we couldn’t do it without the support of this community.

Thank you all.

Paul Woodward