Foodbank champions are praised for tireless efforts
Foodbank heroes who have helped keep shelves stocked for those in need during the pandemic have been praised.
Wolverhampton South-East MP Pat McFadden met with representatives of Excel Church and community champions from Church Pharmacy from Bilston, Morrisons and Heron Foods, all of whom have helped Excel Foodbank since the start of the pandemic.
Foodbank coordinator John Raj spoke about the help the different organisations had given the foodbank since it started up in April last year.
He said: “They’ve donated different items to us when we’ve needed to buy stock and we’ve been able to order large amounts of stock through them.
"They’ve also offered us big discounts from those orders of the stock, which has helped us greatly along the way.
"We wouldn’t be able to do what we do if we didn’t have that level of support from the local businesses and it’s great to have Pat down here today to offer his thanks as he has been an incredible supporter of ours.”
'Inspirational'
The champions were given a gift box of cupcakes as a thank you from the foodbank, which is anticipating a busy year as the country begins to emerge from lockdown and the pandemic.
Pat McFadden said the foodbank was a fantastic community effort which helped people across Bilston and offered his own words of thanks to the champions.
He said: “John Raj is an inspirational leader, but he doesn’t do it alone and he has a great team and great external partners who have helped along the way.
“We’re all extremely grateful for the help given by Heron Foods, Morrisons, Church Pharmacy and the local authority and thankful for everything they’ve contributed here.
“I would also say to any other potential partners in the community that this foodbank is well worth supporting as it is an absolutely inspirational effort and truly represents the community spirit in the city.”
To find out more about Excel Foodbank, go to www.excelchurch.org.uk/foodparcel/
