Rob shared a press release this week about the expansion of the Norfolk food bank, which we’re getting involved in. Those in need, who are at risk of going hungry, will be referred to us for a few days’ food. It’s a basic way to meet people’s needs, and we’re all really excited about it.

I’m not sure where the article has appeared, but I thought I’d share it.

Foodbank reveals plan for centres across Norfolk
The team behind Norwich foodbank has revealed its vision to see a network of foodbanks right across Norfolk, so that anyone who is in need of its crisis food service is within easy reach of one, and is appealing to churches to help it become reality. Keith Morris reports.

A very successful harvest appeal, backed by the efforts of Norwich Evening News readers and ultra-athlete Alex Panayotou with her 195-mile non-stop run to Norwich City’s Carrow Road stadium, has seen Norwich foodbank overwhelmed with 12 tonnes of food and donations. And now the Christian charity is looking for church partners to help it expand right across Norfolk.

Norwich foodbank project manager, Grant Habershon, said: “Our vision is to see a foodbank within easy reach of anyone in the county that may need one. Norwich foodbank is being brilliantly supported. What we want is that people in Cromer or Yarmouth for example also have somewhere to turn.

“As a minimum we would like to see five foodbanks across Norfolk in places like Great Yarmouth, Cromer and South Norfolk, alongside the existing ones in Norwich and King’s Lynn. If other towns or villages want a foodbank, then fantastic.

The Norwich Foodbank is already having an effect beyond Norwich within one year of opening.

“Food has come in from all over the county,” said Grant. “This includes schools from Cromer, Banham, Loddon, Dereham and Reepham and churches from Overstrand, Mattishall, Tipton, Paston, Hockering, Sea Palling and Wells. They also had a wonderful harvest collection from Wayland Prison.

“This incredible response is allowing us to push ahead with plans to open additional distribution centres for foodboxes, both in Norwich and now further afield.”

Grant and the team are now keen to speak to churches and communities outside of the city which are interested in becoming one of the distribution centres or would like help and encouragement in setting up their own foodbank and joining the Trussell Trust foodbank network.

“It is great if towns can set up their own foodbank and join the Trussell Trust network. King’s Lynn has just set one up and Thetford and Gunton will soon be doing the same. However many areas may not have the resources to do this or may need help and encouragement.

“Wymondham Rotary Club recently contacted Norwich foodbank to see how a distribution centre could be set up in their town. Local churches in the town got behind this cause and a distribution centre operating from Wymondham Baptist Church will be launched later this year.”

Churches Together in Diss and Harleston are very keen to get involved and may start by linking to the Norwich warehouse bringing food in and taking parcels out while working towards a longer term goal of setting up a south Norfolk Foodbank. Discussions are also taking place with churches in Swaffham, Dereham and Stalham.

In Norwich itself foodbank will be opening a new distribution centre for their food boxes at Witard Road Baptist Church at Heartsease in November and another one at Eternity Christian Centre in West Earlham in December.

You can quickly donate up to £10 to foodbanks by sending a text message reading “FBUK11” to 70070, which will be split evenly between Norwich foodbank and the Trussell Trust.

The rain held off for the night, and despite the weather we’d had over the previous few days, the field was firm and I think we only had one or two people (toddlers!) tumble into mud. The dark made it difficult to say how many people were there, but around 30 people from Little Acorns alone came along to enjoy a sausage (or two) in a roll, a cup of hot chocolate, and to chat by the huge bonfire. It was just good fun.

And Paul’s fireworks were excellent – well timed, and well ordered – I enjoyed them more than the bigger display the Rugby Club had done the night before.

The Bonfire Party is free and has been going on for years and years, far longer than I’ve been at WBC, though I missed my first several opportunities to go because I didn’t know just how good – in a really simple, just enjoying being together sort of way – it would be.

And just about everybody was there. So if you missed it, make sure you come along next year.

Oh and I think there was going to be a pot at church today, in case anyone wanted to make a contribution to the cost of their sausage. Acorns is making a donation on behalf of the families we sent along, and we thank the church family for welcoming the Acorns families to our party.

In the light the photos didn’t turn out so well, but here’s a little of what happened:

(Many thanks to the ladies for letting me snap pictures of them in action! – and to all who worked before, during, and after to give us all such a good time.)

The bonfire, burning down

We’re still getting tools in from time to time – we’re really being seen as a place where people can come to be a part of changing lives.

Even though they’re still coming in, I’m going to move on to more current affairs. One last story then, even if the tools keep coming . Here’s the story Charlotte W wrote about the activity:

Once there was a man called Tony who had a tool he didn’t really like. On Sunday he went to Church! One Sunday he went to church and on the notice board it said, “Bring your tools you don’t like or if its no use.” The man thought for a moment! After church he went back home and went into the shed and looked for the tool he didn’t like. He found the tool and next Sunday he put it in the pile of tools! Just in time because the pile was taken into the lorry.

Then the service started. After church just as he was leaving he noticed a poster it showed what was going to happen to the tools! What it said is this “The tools will go into a lorry then get fixed or get checked. Then they would go to the poor country” Tony, (the man) got very interested. He wondered what would happen
to his tool he didn’t really like. He asked the priest what would happen. He went back home to have lunch with his wife. He said to her “I think I’m going to get a new tool” So after lunch he went to the tool shop. He brought a new tool. He (Tony) thought about his old tool. The tool was in the lorry arriving at the check up thing were they checking it. The man used the new tool very well.

The end