Calon Cymru Fostering Sponsors Local Foodbanks

This Christmas, we sponsored local food banks that collectively support over 300 low incomes families a week across South Wales.

Our sponsorship donation to the ‘Dulias Valley foodbank’ and the’ Feed the Community foodbank’ will help cover the cost of feeding the local communities over the Christmas period and into the New Year.

Calon Cymru Foster Carers Carla and Stephen Hirsch-Bennion, recently visited the foodbank to witness the wonderful efforts put in by the volunteers and to praise Deacon Maurice Scanlon and his team which included Ellery Hennessy with Phillip and Helen Smith as they prepared around 100 hampers as they do for families each week.

St Mary of the Angels RC Church Deacon, Maurice Scanlon shared “In the last two weeks of December we will be sending out Christmas hampers to these families. We have a small group of volunteers to help deliver the hampers in our Canton and Fairwater community.”

Currently, food hampers can be requested from the local schools including, St Francis Primary, Holy Family Primary, St Mary’s Catholic School, Mary and Immaculate High School, St Corpus Christi High school, and St Patricks Primary. Food hamper request can also be made directly to Maurice Scanlon via email at mfscanlon@hotmail.co.uk or call on 07747038274.

Maurice also shared: “We have hopes to expand the foodbank in the new year so that we can support more families and we encourage anyone in the local community to donate food or spare a donation where they can, so that we can continue supporting more families.”

The Dulais Valley Food Bank has supported many local families who have struggled to make ends meet and required help from their community, since November 2019. The whole community has been donating food, health and everyday supplies when they can. Dropping them off at local venues such as the community centre in Seven Sisters, Bandwin Stores and Post Office, Croynant Community Centres, and Purple Paws Groomers, to name only a few.

Operations Manager from DANSA (one of Dulias Valley Food Bank locations) Susan Evans said: “DANSA Ltd have been privileged to be a prescriber of vouchers for the Dulais Valley Food Bank, we will continue to assist in anything we can do to help this initiative”

Emma Revie, chief executive of the Trussell Trust, a charity organisation that supports food banks across the UK explains: “Throughout 2020, communities across the country have stepped in to provide vital support to people left without enough money. Volunteers in food banks have been working hard under extremely difficult circumstances to make sure support is there for people struggling to afford essentials. But it’s not right that any of us are forced to a charity for food, at any time of year.”

Here at Calon Cymru Fostering, we are dedicated to supporting young people in care across South and South West Wales have are proud to be working with the foodbanks to help improve the outlook of young people and their families in the community. We acknowledge the weight of our communities needing them isn’t ideal, supporting them is vital.

If you wish to support local young people and their families then we urge you to donate to your local food bank, with items such a non-perishable foods, health and hygiene items, household supplies and even the likes of nappies and baby formula. You can also offer financial donations to your local food banks.

If you feel like you could offer something more and have a spare room in your home and lots of room in your heart, then get in touch with us and enquire about becoming a Foster Carer. There are many young people in care in Wales who could flourish with the generous and kind families in our community.