FaithHopeLove long crop

Foodbank box 750

Sheringham Salvation Army helping the community

Sheringham Salvation Army has been providing help for local people during the current coronavirus epidemic, and is preparing for a surge in demand for food parcels as the crisis deepens.  Tony Rothe reports.

 
The Salvation Army corps has urged members of the public to think of those struggling to feed their families during the coronavirus outbreak, and has published a list of items they are running short of.
 
Former social worker Carol McKean, who is community manager at Sheringham’s Salvation Army headquarters, posted an appeal on Facebook a couple of weeks ago praising shoppers at the town’s Tesco store for their generosity. This was after a number of people had told her they had seen customers attempting to remove toilet rolls and pasta from the basket near the Cromer Road store’s entrance at the start of the outbreak.
 
Corps Officer Major Alex Bishop told Network Norfolk “We are as prepared as we can be for this crisis. We have a nucleus of about 10 volunteers that are helping along with the employed staff team 7. So far, we have been helping people with food parcels, shopping, utility top-ups and collection of prescriptions.
 
“Demand for food parcels has not yet reached high levels, but has picked up since the increased social isolation measures have been put in place.  Each food parcel contains enough food for between 3 to 7 days depending on circumstances. Last week we provided parcels for 20 people including some children. I anticipate this will increase as things become more difficult and people find out that we are providing a service.”
 
Mr Bishop said his team was not yet concerned about meeting demand, as their food stocks were holding up well with the customers at Sheringham Tesco being particularly generous. 
 
But they are short of the following items:
 

  • Pudding items (including Angel Delight, Trifle kits, evaporated milk, long life sponge puddings etc);
  • Long life milk;
  • Tinned meat for hot meals including pies, puddings, minced beef and stewed steak;
  • Granulated sugar;
  • Savoury biscuits;
  • Hand sanitiser.

 
Sheringham Salvation Army Foodbank is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and by appointment. For more information, phone 01263 826059.
 

Factfile


Project title:                        Sheringham Corps Coronavirus response
 
Who runs the project?         Alex and Janet Bishop
 
Where do you operate?       We cover the eastern half of NR25 Sheringham towards Holt, all of NR26, all of NR27, NR11 as far south as Roughton
 
Address of project base:     Salvation Army church, Cremer Street, Sheringham, NR26 8DZ
 
Public contact details:         sheringham@salvationarmy.org.uk or  01263 826059 
 
What you can offer other projects: We can accept referrals from other voluntary agencies/churches/statutory bodies/schools etc (with the clients permission) for 3 day emergency isolation food boxes, food parcels for those in financial need, isolation activity packs (developed for older people by our Older Peoples specialist team at HQ), telephone appointments with our registered social worker and accredited Parish Nurse.
 
Current needs:                    See the list of items above.

website:                              https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/sheringham

Prayer requests:
  
That the team members keep well;
That people facing need will come forward before they reach crisis point for food, and advice;
That the scattered church will truly make a difference on their new 'frontline';
That people feeling overwhelmed and anxious by the situation will find comfort in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. 
 



TonyRothe150Do you have a news story or forthcoming event relating to Christians or a church in North Norfolk?  

If so, e-mail tony.rothe@networknorwich.co.uk with details and, if possible a suitable picture. 


Published: 31/03/2020


9184 views