A new food share scheme in Keswick is looking for more volunteers.
Keswick Area Food Share (KAFS) was set up last month by local organisations, with the help of Cumberland Council and local businesses. A food share scheme works much like a food bank, except that anyone living locally and in need can benefit from the food parcels it provides, rather than needing to be referred to it by the social care team, as happens with a food bank.
In its first week the food share helped 18 local families with food parcels.
The team is now looking for some extra pairs of hands to help it provide support to the people of Keswick. Anyone interested should go along to Keswick Library on 17 or 18 May between 10am-12noon or 2pm-4pm on either day, where they’ll be able to speak to current volunteers and find out more about this vital service.
There are currently some 16 people signed up as volunteers.
The idea for a Food Share scheme in Keswick came from local resident Laura Gaskell, who wanted to help local families who were struggling with the rising cost of living. Officers from Cumbria County Council approached Laura back in January this year to help her set it up. The same team, who are now working for Cumberland Council, continued this work once the new council started providing services on 1 April this year.
The council helped with scoping out the need for such a service in the town, supported the setting up of the organising committee, and provided around £5k of financial assistance for buying food. It also provided the rooms, previously occupied by Citizens Advice, at Keswick Library as a venue for the food share and is allowing KAFS to hold their volunteer drop-in sessions in the library.
The library also houses a food drop-point for donations.
The food share scheme is based next to Keswick Library and open on Wednesdays from 10am to 1pm. The food is free to anyone who needs it, though there is a voluntary contribution of £2 if recipients can afford it.
The team is currently taking donations of dried food, tins and toiletries, but people can also donate money as well as pay to cover the cost of a food parcel in advance of it being provided.
More information can be found on the Keswick Food Share Facebook page.
Laura Gaskell said: “I was surprised by the number of people who needed support, I always thought Keswick might have a need and when I looked into it I was spurred on to help.”
Councillor Lisa Brown, Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council with the Governance and Thriving Communities portfolio, said: “I’m pleased that we are working collaboratively with people in our communities to address issues that unfortunately many of our residents face today. I think we would all prefer there not to be a need for food banks and similar schemes, which is why we introduced a Right to Food in our Council Plan to ensure we do what we can to tackle food poverty and insecurity in our communities.
Whilst the need is there, KAFS have a great team of volunteers and I’d encourage anyone who is keen to find out more or can spare a little bit of their time to join them, to go along to one of the drop-in sessions.”