Search for food champions to help the hungry in Amersham
A new partnership is helping to rally around those in need
People in Amersham are being encouraged to help feed those around them.
The search is on for Food Champions, who can organise collections from their street and take donations into the Chiltern Foodbank.
It's hoped it will help the children often going hungry around Amersham.
As part of the scheme residents are invited to set up a food collection service in their own road or street.
As a Food Champion their role is to coordinate regular collections of donations from their neighbours to be taken to the Chiltern Foodbank headquarters.
Once delivered the vital provisions will help make up food parcels for vulnerable local individuals and families.
A success already
Once such resident who has stepped up to the cause is Susan Bosher.
Susan recognised the increasing need to provide food to people who were struggling during the pandemic and got in touch with Chiltern Foodbank to see if she could help in some way.
Susan signed up to be a new Food Champion and has been collecting food in her local area to drop off at the foodbank:
She said:
"With Covid changing the way we shop, I wanted to help increase food collections for Chiltern Foodbank.
"Offering my community a local drop-off point means that anyone can donate food and other essentials easily."
Following the success of the pilot scheme run by Susan, the Street Association and Chiltern Foodbank approached the Community Board to look at how to further develop the scheme to encourage other people to sign up.
Diane Rutter, Chiltern Foodbank Coordinator said:
"I was shocked to discover how many children in Amersham are being brought up in poverty and go to bed hungry. But I am heartened by the goodwill of residents like Susan who are doing something about it.
"Collecting food from your neighbours and bringing it to the Foodbank is such a simple thing, yet it makes a huge difference to the lives of people who are struggling."
During the pandemic Buckinghamshire's 16 community boards have played a key role in supporting local communities, working with voluntary groups and organisations to ensure the most vulnerable are supported.
Mark Dormer, Chairman of Amersham Community Board said:
"We are really pleased to work with the Street Association and Chiltern Foodbank to help promote and grow this local scheme.
"The pandemic has seen communities come together to support each other and as a community board we play a vital role in enabling and facilitating projects like these.
"We know more and more people have struggled in recent months due to the pandemic and we are keen to do all we can to help them and ensure that every single person or family in our area who needs help is able to get it."
To find out more about the Food Champions scheme or to set up a scheme in your street email: foodchampions@chiltern.foodbank.org.uk or telephone 01494 775668.