A West Midlands charity is urgently appealing for donations to help restock its foodbank currently distributing food parcels to NHS workers and people self-isolating over the age of 65+ during the coronavirus crisis.
As-Suffa Outreach has distributed over 450 parcels in the past fortnight, giving out around 60 parcels a day during the last week, but will run out of food in the next 2 to 3 days if stocks are not replenished.
Taz Khan from, Head of Support Services at As-Suffa Outreach, says “With current food levels we will only be able to continue making deliveries for the next 2-3 days and urgently need to restock our foodbank. Our stock levels are low, and our volunteers are really stretched. The current coronavirus pandemic is making it very difficult for those in need to buy food, and with more people relying on these food packs we would ask communities around the West Midlands for their help.”
The charity is asking for on-line donations in order to buy goods to keep the shelves of their stock cupboard stocked. Items such as UHT milk, tinned foods or dried goods as well as toiletries are also needed and the charity offering to pick up goods from those wishing to donate.
As-Suffa Outreach, based in Birmingham, has been running a food bank for 5 years. However, during the coronavirus crisis the organisation has extended this service and is delivering food packs to those over 65 who have had to self-isolate in Birmingham, Walsall, Coventry and the wider West Midlands region.
The charity is also supporting NHS workers, giving out 39 packs in the last 14 days, to those who are finding it hard to buy essentials instore or online after their shifts. People like Alexandra, who contacted the charity to say “Thank you for the food parcel, it’s helped us a lot as we were unable to get a lot of food. Nothing left in the supermarket, and I was on nights.”
Recipients of another parcel, Nicola and Stephen said “We totally appreciate what the charity is doing, a big thank you to them for reaching out to us as we self-isolate for 12 weeks. All the items were very much appreciated as the things we have struggled to get were eggs and rice, so it was great to get those and the other very useful things.”
Taz ends “We need to help the elderly and vulnerable, as well as our usual foodbank users, get through this current crisis and As-Suffa Outreach want to help as many people as possible; no one should have to go through this alone and definitely not without food. We can only provide our foodbank service as long as we have food supplies and would ask anyone to help with donations to get in touch”
Anyone wanting to make a donation should visit https://www.as-suffa.org/donate/food-bank/ or call 07835487124 to arrange for As-Suffa Outreach to collect items.
