Church food bank given boost to help struggling families

Struggling families in Derbyshire have been thrown a lifeline, thanks to a donation to a local food bank.  

We have awarded the grant to Ashbourne Food Bank which is run and managed by Ashbourne Elim Church.  

The donation is part of our yearly community kindness campaign, which will see us support 117 local specialist organisations, charities, food banks and events across our communities; overall the campaign will donate £82,135 this year.  

Tracey Silk, our Community Engagement Officer said: “Food banks up and down the country have become a staple for many families.  And with Christmas just around the corner, many people will be relying on them even more.  We have close to 700 properties in Ashbourne itself and more in the surrounding villages with many of the food bank users being Platform customers.  The church provides a great deal of support to both our customers and the wider community through its food bank, youth work and support for older residents. We are so pleased to be able to provide financial assistance to this essential service.”  

The donation will be used to buy Christmas gifts for struggling families who use the food bank.  

Mike Swan, Community Outreach Worker at Ashbourne Elim Church said: “We are so thankful to Platform  for offering our community such a lifeline at this time of year. Over the past year we have given out more than 100,000 meals to families and individuals in need in our local area.  This was only made possible due to the generosity of organisations like Platform.”  

For those who would like to donate food items, there are collection points at Ashbourne Elim Church, Sainsburys and both Co-ops.  To give financially to the work of the food bank, please email foodbank@ashbourneelim.church.  

Photo caption : l to r, Mike Swan, Community Outreach Worker at Ashbourne Elim Church and Sarah Sutton, Director of New Customers and Specialist Housing at Platform Housing Group.