Page 26 - February 2016 Issue 301

26 THE NEW COUNTESTHORPE HERALD
LUTTERWORTH & VILLAGES
FOODBANK - COUNTESTHORPE
DISTRIBUTION CENTRE UPDATE
The Trussell Trust says that over 1,000,000 people were helped through their Foodbank network last year, about one third of them were children.
FEBRUARY 2016
the Countesthorpe team directly please email countesthorpe@ lutterworthvillages.foodbank. org
LEICESTERSHIRE
SPEAKERS PRE-
CHRISTMAS SOCIAL
Our December meeting afforded us an opportunity for some jollification and celebratory pre-Christmas nibbles. Traditionally during our December meeting members are asked to read an appropriate piece of prose or poem suitable for the season.
The diversity of the readings was great. We had serious pieces such as a narrative ‘After the Storm from a Robin’s Perspective’ by Wyn Glen. Frank Kovacs gave us the history of Joseph Mohr’s carol “Silent Night”.
Morag Wilkes treated us by reading the Christmas Story in the Northumbrian dialect which was really very moving. Unfortunately the ‘word count’ restricts all readers and poems to be listed. Suffice it say there were pieces that gave us cause for reflection and light hearted ones causing much laughter.
All too soon it was time to go home after wishing one another happy Christmas as we look forward to our January meeting.
Leicestershire Speakers welcome anyone who would like to learn the art of speaking in public. Our meetings are supportive, informative and entertaining, helping to turn nervous wrecks into confident, speakers. We meet at 7.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month at the Blaby Drop in Centre. For more information ring Anne Jones on 2772295 or visit our website www.leicspeakers. co.uk. We can also provide entertainment and talks to other societies and groups.
It is clear from the generosity of local people since Foodbanks were set up in Lutterworth and now in Countesthorpe that many folk are ready and willing to help but really would like to know more about how it all works.
Frontline professionals can refer a client to their local Foodbank by giving them a very specific voucher which will be checked by the volunteers. Also for practical reasons this professional may well accompany the client – we all know food for a family can be heavy and bulky and clients rarely live close to their nearest place of help and support. Each Foodbank is set up so that there is always a team of volunteers to meet and greet the clients, and a pack of food and toiletries will be put together by a volunteer using a list produced by NHS dieticians for The Trussell Trust.
The reason we ask the public to donate non perishable items is literally the basic logistics of the scheme – fresh food has a limited shelf life, while a tin or packet of food is ‘in date’ for much longer. Interestingly items most needed in both the Countesthorpe and Lutterworth distribution centres currently include dried potato, savoury biscuits, toothbrushes, soap, large size nappies, long life full cream milk, vegetarian meals and washing up liquid. It might not be obvious, but folk who hit hard times might well be pet owners and rely on the animal for company so any contributions of pet food may well quickly disappear off the store room shelf.
In Countesthorpe there are two sessions a week, on Tuesday (12pm - 2pm) and on Friday (2pm - 4pm) when clients can visit the Foodbank in the Methodist
Church room, Wigston Street with their voucher and take away an appropriate pack for the numbers in their household to support them over at least the next three days. There is also a collection of helpful leaflets about other organisations and facilities that might be useful plus an opportunity to be signposted to other services that may be able to help by one of our helpful and friendly volunteers. The centre offers a warm welcome with a hot drink and an opportunity to chat and be listened to in complete confidence.
If you are in crisis and live in the Countesthorpe and need help then you can enquire about a foodbank voucher at Countesthorpe Health Centre, Library, Surestart Centre, Blaby District Council Benefits Team, local schools or contact us at the email address or contact number below.
Food contributions will be very gratefully received in the collecting boxes in The Rainbow Shop, the Methodist Church, St Andrews Church, Countesthorpe College and very soon also the Tesco Express in The Square.
The Countesthorpe Distribution Centre would also particularly like to thank the generous attendees of the Christmas Spectacular on 4th December who raised £212 for the foodbank running costs as part of this event. We would not be able to run without your generous financial and food donations so thank you. Thanks also to Countesthorpe Parish Council for selecting the Foodbank as the Charity for the event and for a brilliant evening. Foodbank now also have a new website lutterworthvillages.foodbank.org.uk. The telephone number remains unchanged as 01455 558797. Alternatively, to contact
Y OU DON TNEEDE
YESTOS EEYOUN EEDVIS ION
L EN DMEYO
UREYESICA NCHANGEW HA TYO USEE
Robert Maddock Opticians
7, The Bank, Countesthorpe, LE8 5RL
0116 2780675 www.maddockopticians.com
Eye examinations, private and NHS available.
Gas permeable and soft contact lenses.
Large range of spectacle frames.
Friendly and professional service.