At Coda Pharmacy, we are delighted to announce that our March Charity of the Month is the much-loved Eastbourne Foodbank.
We are incredibly proud to be partnering with such an inspiring organisation that plays a vital role in supporting members of our local community.
Our Coda team members, Molly and Kim, recently had the pleasure of visiting the Eastbourne Foodbank warehouse, where they met the amazing team behind the charity. During their visit, they were given a behind-the-scenes look at the incredible work that goes into running the food bank and supporting those who need it most.
Who is Eastbourne Foodbank?
Eastbourne Foodbank is part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by Trussell, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK. The Foodbank Network was founded in 2004 after four years of developing the original foodbank based in Salisbury. Since then Trussell has helped communities work together to launch foodbanks nationwide in a wide range of towns and cities.
No one in our community should have to face going hungry and that’s why Eastbourne Foodbank provides three days’ nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis.
Where to go for Support
There are six locations across Eastbourne that you can visit for support from Eastbourne Foodbank, these include:
- St Elisabeth’s Church Centre – with cafe
- All Souls Church – with cafe
- St Saviour’s Church
- St Richard’s Church Centre – Advice Cafe and vouchers for Langney (no food is available)
- Langney Community Centre – Emergency Food only (you must have a voucher)
Community development and communications manager, Juliet, said: “When you first come in here it looks quite full doesn’t it, but I think it is important to point out that it doesn’t last very long. We get through 500 cartons of milk a week.”
Chief Executive, Jess Holiday, said: “We try to keep it at three months worth of stock here but that’s always sort of edgy if it will last that long, it is really brilliant to be able to get what we need from donations.”
Where to Donate
You can donate food to Eastbourne Foodbank at various supermarkets located across Eastbourne, a few of these include:
- Tesco Extra, Lottridge Drove, Eastbourne
- Tesco Metro, Brassey Ave, Hampden Park, Eastbourne
- Sainsbury’s, Broadwater Way, Eastbourne
- Sainsbury’s, Eastbourne The Beacon Centre
- Sainsbury’s Local, Victoria Drive, Old Town, Eastbourne
- Morrisons, Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne
- ASDA, The Crumbles, Pevensey Bay Road, Eastbourne
- Pets At Home, Lottbridge Drove, Eastbourne
- Lidl, Polegate
- ESK Pet Pantry, Courtlands Road, Eastbourne
- Co-op Polegate, High Street, Polegate
More Than Food
Alongside providing support with food, Eastbourne Foodbank has a range of other services to support our community. These range from debt and budgeting, advocacy and advice, home start and Baby Basics.
Baby Basics
Their Baby Basics service is a “More than Food” project run by Eastbourne Foodbank, and forms part of a national network that provides essential items and equipment to mothers and families who are unable to afford them.
The project supports families facing difficult circumstances by supplying a range of practical items, including moses baskets complete with clothing, nappies and a new mattress, new mum packs with sanitary and hospital bag essentials, as well as baby, toddler and children’s clothing, shoes, bedding and equipment. Families can also receive prams and buggies, along with toys and books suitable for young children.
Alongside distributing these items, the project works to raise funds for new essentials, increase donations, and build awareness among health and social care professionals who can refer families for support. There is no strict criteria for receiving a Baby Basics package, but requests must be made through a referral from a health or social care professional or agency, ensuring a process that is entirely non-judgemental.
Chief Executive, Jess Holiday, said: “We have helped young mums who are just 15 or 16 years old and have been through the care system and once they have had their baby and worked with their midwives they often don’t have that support around them.
With us being able to look at providing everything from that initial moses basket, that as a starting gift can really help someone feel a bit of love.”
At its heart, the initiative aims to provide hope, dignity and practical support to families during challenging times, based on the belief that every child deserves to start life with their basic needs met.
“We have had young mums come back 8 months later with the newborn buggy that we provided them and then they take the next size and later bring that back in and they feel not just like they are receiving things from a charity but that they are part of a network.”
We can’t thank Eastbourne Foodbank enough for partnering with us this month and we are so excited to share more from our time together.
Visit the video below to see more from Molly and Kim’s time with Eastbourne Foodbank:
For more information on how Eastbourne Food Bank can support you or a loved one, visit: https://eastbourne.foodbank.org.uk/
To donate, visit: https://eastbourne.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/
Coda Pharmacy is here to support you every step of the way. Visit our homepage to learn more about our services. If you have any questions about what you have read in this article or any of the services that Coda Pharmacy can provide you with, please do not hesitate to reach out and contact us here.
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