Devizes Food Bank

31 December 2009. Latest information on food comings and goings, click the chart below. For 2008 see 30 November 2008 end of year summary article below.

22 November 2009. Having served as Foodbank Coordinator for a year, Sue has decided to move on to a new and much needed role as Coordinator for Devizes Opendoor, the new drop-in centre taking over from Abalare within Devizes. We are grateful for all Sue has done to help the clients of DFB.

We welcome Alan Beamish as our new Foodbank Coordinator, who has joined us after retirement from his work with Bath Area Drugs Advisory Service (BADAS). Alan was born 65 years ago, and now lives in Calne. He has been married to Kathleen for 39 years and they have 2 children, Paul 36 and Kelly 29. Alan did 12 years army service including time in Baor, Hong Kong, Singapore, Borneo, Cyprus and N.Ireland. After the services Alan worked for 28 years for the Royal Mail as a rural postman. Next career stop for Alan was 8 years working for Bath Area Drug Advisory Service [ Wiltshire Team ], from which her retired at the end of September 09 recently. During Alan's time in employment with BADAS in Salisbury, he was in contact with the Trussell Trust, looking forward to being a team member of DFB.

31 October 2009 Gazette and Herald - 3 December 2009

Devizes' food bank's festive bid 10:11am Thursday 3rd Dec 2009

As families prepare to stock up with Christmas goodies, Devizes Food Bank has appealed to them to remember those in dire straits. Churches, community groups and individual residents in the Devizes area have donated over seven tonnes of food to the organisation, enabling them to distribute 500 food boxes. The charity's new co-ordinator, Alan Beamish, said: "Devizes is a close-knit community with a big heart and we are so grateful for all the support we have had over the last two years. "But with the recession, there are more people than ever in need of help and we ask the community to think of others as they prepare for their festivities this Christmas." To contribute contact Mr Beamish on 07807 973605 or e-mail info@devizesfoodbank.co.uk

25 September 2009. Harvest donations. As last year the store will be open at extra times to receive with massive thanks a much needed blessing of harvest donations. For opening times click 'Opening Times & Rotas' on the left hand panel.

5 September 2009. Sue brings this report back from the DFB team's fund raising participation in a the Devizes Carnival. more....

12 July 2009. Our intrepid coordinator Sue, with colleague school patrollers, had an eye catching fund raising walk for the DFB today. more........

9 July 2009 The Trustees were delighted to welcome many people from most corners of Wiltshire to the AGM which was held yesterday. Click here to view some pictures and get a flavour of the evening.

8 July 2009. The Devizes Food Bank Annual Report has been issued, and can be viewed by clicking here.

Annual Report 2007/8 (Word 97 version)

Annual Report 2007/8 (Adobe Reader version)

All interested parties are welcome to come to todays 1^st Annual General Meeting of DFB, where the Annual report will be presented and discussed. The AGM will be held at St Andrew's Church, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire. SN10 1NJ at Wednesday 8^th July 7pm.

21 June 2009. Devizes Food Bank has a range of merchandise ( see buy DFB Stuff ).You can now show your support of the Devizes Food Bank, and give us some very welcome publicity in the UK and worldwide (why stop there?).

We would love to add to this website your photos and story of DFB items pictured in interesting places and situations.

See this stunning entry from Jean and Peter; who currently are our lead international correspondents. more..

To submit your picture and story contact us or email Les.

16 June 2009. As part of week, Bishop Stephen and the more....

2 June 2009. We are delighted to invite all interested parties to the 1^st Annual General Meeting of Devizes Food Bank which will be held at St Andrew's Church, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire. SN10 1NJ at Wednesday 8^th July 7pm.

Click below for more information;

AGM invitation (Word 97 version)

AGM invitation (Adobe Reader version)

To view the attachment, Adobe Reader needs to be installed on your computer.

(click here to download Adobe Reader free)

2 June 2009. A new Foodbank has launched in Wiltshire College Chippenham. It is managed by the Community Campus team. If you would like more information please email Ben.Newport@wiltshire.ac.uk

21 May 2009. Today at St Andrews a cheque for £307.50p was presented to Rev . Chris Cory by Mike Eacopo of St Nicholas Church and more...........

12 May 2009. Please mark your diary, to come along to our first Annual General Meeting. We can offer a warm welcome, an inspiring speaker, snacks and drinks and a promise to get through the formal bit promptly. It will be on Wednesday the 8th July 2009, 7pm in Devizes (venue to be confirmed).

30 March 2009. For the second year in a row, Curves Gym in Devizes have collected an enormous food donation from it's members for the DFB. Free membership was provided to new members more.....

26 March 2009. Today DFB gratefully received it's biggest ever single donation from Vestey Foods. Almost one tonne of food was more.......

24th February 2009. Kick-starting this years Curves Gym Food Drive, Sue Kemp presented manager Sharon Gibbings with a special DFB shopper bearing a list of needed food items. During March the Gym is offering free membership in exchange for food donations. more.....

10th February 2009. A volunteers meeting was held Tuesday 10th February 10:30-12:00 at St. Andrews Church, Devizes. Many attendees enjoyed and appreciated the presentations, discussions, and a chance to meet Sue Kemp in her new role as Devizes Foodbank Coordinator.

18 January 2009.

After a busy year as Foodbank Co-ordinator Cathy Griffiths is moving on to full time employment as a Development Technologist with "apetito" in Trowbridge. Carrying on the post is Sue Kemp. more.......

30 November 2008.

In our first year we all donated 8,659 kg of food, of which we used 6,381 kg of food to make up and give out;

* 142 family Emergency Food Boxes, and;

* 187 single Emergency Food Boxes.

We think that Jesus wants us to do this to help people in need in Kennet, and pray that He blesses all who benefit from and contribute to our continuing work.

Click on this chart to see our first whole year of Food Box distribution. The years work marks a huge achievement for the volunteers, donors, partners, distributors, sponsors and organisers who made it happen.

1st November 2008. We have a new correspondence address from 1st November 2008. See contact us. Many thanks to Alabare and Community 4 for accommodating DFB so far, and to St James Church, Devizes for taking us on next.

19th October 2008. Devizes Food Bank has launched a range of merchandise ( see buy DFB Stuff ).you can show your support of the Devizes Food Bank, and give us some very welcome publicity. We would love to add to this website your photos and story of DFB items in interesting places and situations. To submit your picture and story contact us or email Les.

16th October 2008. From today there will be DEVIZES FOOD BANK coffee mornings from 10.00am to 12.00 on Thursdays at St Andrew's Church in Long Street, Devizes. We offer a warm welcome, a friendly face and a listening ear and we look forward to meeting you.

16th September 2008. Harvest donations last year were a huge blessing to the Devizes Food Bank and it's clients. We plan to open the store on both Tuesdays and Thursdays through September and October (see Store Opening Times) to sort the food and pack Emergency Food Boxes. Please could volunteers who help at the store, add your names to the food store calendar, or contact;

Cathy ( details here ) or Janice ( janice@devizesfoodbank.co.uk ).

8th August 2008. The Devizes Food Bank was today registered with the UK Charity Commission as registered Charity Number 1125441. Amongst other benefits we can now claim 'Gift Aid' tax benefit on your donations (see Donate Food or Money ).

17th June 2008. Tomato Tower. Hearing that the DFB were short of tinned tomatoes, gym held a collection from their members. Click here to see the mountainous and very welcome tomato tower, received with many thanks.

15th May 2008. Volunteers Evening. was held at Sheep Street Baptist Hall (who we thank for the venue), and was well attended and appreciated. Volunteers and supporters alike enjoyed drinks, snacks, and very informative presentations showing how distributors used the Emergency Food Boxes to support their clients. Prizes were awarded from DFB's new range of merchandise, and the imminent expansion to drop in coffee mornings for volunteers and clients was announced. If anyone has any questions or queries, please contact us.

27th March 2008. More food donated by , this time more massive contributions gratefully received from Trowbridge and Melksham and their members. Click here for food donation details.

17th March 2008. See what half a tonne of food looks like. Today we gratefully collected 475.5 kilograms of food donated by Devizes and it's members. This has filled a void in our food supply, and starting tomorrow will be packed by DFB volunteers into Emergency Food Boxes ready to be distributed.

3rd March 2008 for 2 weeks. The Devizes Food Bank are delighted to be

sponsored by gym for a two week food drive promotion. Curves will waive their service fee for new people joining during the promotion, if they bring in a bag of food to donate. Look out for details in the Gazette & Herald (click here to see 6 March 2008 copy below), and BBC Radio Wiltshire.

11th February 2008. After a busy year helping to establish the Devizes Food Bank, launched in the autumn by the Partnership of Churches in the town, Rosa – Diane Lancaster is moving on from the role of co-ordinator. Her efforts and dedication during this developmental time have been greatly appreciated. The Food Bank Trustees have been pleased to appoint Cathy Griffiths as the new co-ordinator.

Click here to read the Gazette & Herald article 21 February 2008.

Click here to read the full press release.

11 December 2007. Devizes Food Bank is registered in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998 (Registration Number: Z1148067). Check it out at.... http://www.ico.gov.uk/tools_and_resources/register_of_data_controllers.aspx

4 December 2007. DFB gets clean bill of health from Kennet District Council's Environmental Health Department.

30 November 2007. To date DFB has received 1,836 kilograms of donated food, largely from Harvest donations.

October/November 2007. DFB signed up and started training 47 volunteers for work in the store, delivering/collecting, fund raising, publicity, administration and supermarket collections.

2 October 2007. Devizes Food Bank launched in this territory.

Click here to read all about it...

Devizes Carnival 2009

Sue brings this report back from the DFB team's fund raising participation in a the Devizes Carnival.