On Friday 31st May 2013 Ammanford Foodbank opened its doors and began helping the local community through providing emergency food rations for men and women with no where left to turn. Five years later and the need for this assistance is great than ever.

No one could have guessed that in five short years we would have received over 67 tonnes of food and distributed over 65 tonnes. It is thanks to generous individuals and local businesses that we have been able to keep up with the pace at which the need is growing, and I’d like to thank each and every one here if that were possible. A foodbank isn’t a separate part of the community but in Ammanford it really is a part of it – it offering support to those in need, and being supported by those who can.

The Next Five Years

Although the generous people of Ammanford and the surrounding area have been wonderful in maintaining their donations – both financial and material, we are aware that if the donations to our foodbank do not also increase then we will soon be in a difficult position.

In a comparison between the period of January to May of 2017, and the same period this year we have found a staggering difference.

An increase of 13% on 2017

A colossal surge in the need of the foodbank, and varying from what appears to be the national trend of increasing need among single persons, we are seeing a greater need occurring in families, many of whom are on low income and cannot afford to pay their bills as well as buy food – something only more difficult over the summer holidays.

Where next?

Although we’re not sure what the future holds, we do know that with your continued support we’ll make it. Thankfully we’re still able to help all those that cross our threshold, and with more than just food too. With a good link to debt counselors as well as other beneficial resources we hope that the clients we meet are supported for more than the 3 days of rations, but well into their future too.

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