Happily, during the last financial year there have been many many instances when people have found that they are not dependent on Rye Food Bank anymore. We are greatly encouraged to realise that this may be, in part, due to the help we provide. Otherwise there continues to be a slightly rising trend in demand for Rye Food Bank.
As of April 2023, we have 300 households on the books and serve between 35 and 50 households every week of the year. During the financial year just ended we dispensed 40 tons of food plus £11,000 in food vouchers.
Welfare service
Where the main purpose of the food bank is to provide emergency food to those in need we work in partnership with other service providers to help people resolve difficulties. An additional aim is to help alleviate poverty, primarily in benefits and housing. During opening hours we have face-to-face benefits advice provided by Hastings Advice and Representation Centre (HARC). We have a dedicated remote link to Rother District Council to provide assistance and advice with homelessness and housing. We also have Christians Against Poverty providing debt counselling and links with Citizens Advice on energy matters and other valuable inputs.
Our HARC benefits advisor, Teresa Andrews, has been hugely successful in helping untie complex knotty benefits issues and has realised an increase of £152,000 of benefits payments to those who have come for help - a fantastic achievement.
Food throughput - fresh is welcome
There is virtually no waste so that food that comes into the food bank equals that which goes out. Each week quantities range from 600kg to over 1 tonne (1,000kg). By far the majority of food is purchased from donated funds but fresh fruit and vegetables donated by local producers is especially welcome and we really appreciate the generous donations from Hands of Hope in Hawkhurst, the Rye Community Garden, and Salts Farm Shop in East Guldeford. Please bring food donations to the rear of the Baptist Church before 11:30am on Wednesdays.
The main sources of food donations are via the collection bins we have placed in Jempson's stores, Iden village store, Winchelsea Co-op, and the generous efforts of our local churches and schools and Rye Academy.
Many other types of assistance are given, often to people who are really desperate, and especially relating to homelessness, housing and energy. We also find offering a good cup of coffee and being available to listen is a major help to many.
Counting our blessings
We are entirely volunteer run - all our overheads for premises are generously covered by Rye Baptist Church. We are entirely funded by charitable donations from our local community and local business, with some grant funding. We have never experienced shortages or have not been able to supply to those in need.
Rye Food Bank can only exist through the generosity of our local community and we are all so thankful that this continues. A massive thank you to all our benefactors, large or small.
No-one needs a referral or voucher to visit Rye Food Bank. If you have concerns just come and talk to us we are happy to help. Similarly if you would like to know more about our operation you are welcome to come and see us and we can show you how we work.
We are open every Wednesday at the rear of the the Baptist Hall Cinque Ports Street Rye from noon to 3pm. You can email us ryefoodbank@gmail.com. Phone us on 07526 349847. Details are on our website https://ryefoodbank.com/
