Christmas appeal launched as organisation warns of sharp rise in food poverty over the past five years.

BY RAY LUCEY

DID you ever wonder what Feed West Cork is all about? As its co-ordinator Sandra McCormack explains, its motto is ‘a helping hand in times of need’.

Feed West Cork aims to do just that – it is a food bank working with individuals, local businesses and other charities to help fight food poverty. But it does so much more than that.

And, while based at the Methodist Church in Drimoleague, it covers a wide area including Bandon, Glengarriff, Kealkil, Dunmanway, Enniskeane, Leap and Skibbereen.

‘We support families that are in food poverty, there are a lot of those in West Cork,’ revealed Sandra. ‘That’s our main priority. We run a café to come in and chat, it’s a warm, safe space to have something to eat, running that in conjunction with food donations. People love to come in, chat and eat together.’

The support service started four years ago and has grown steadily year on year. It now provides soup, fruit, salads and nutritional meals catering for around 30 people daily at The Junction café.

‘We have about nine volunteers, two women in the cafe and myself, taking calls,’ explained Sandra. ‘We open at 10:30am, and there might be a queue. They all chat with each other, and they know how chilled I am and approachable, because I would have been speaking to them on the phone.

‘People are shy, reluctant, embarrassed, but fine after [a while]. They are really relaxed, because that’s what we’re all about, this is set up for people coming together with a passion to serve in the community.’

Feed West Cork pays a subscription to Food Cloud which repurposes food as well as receiving donations from big companies.

‘That is how we are able to give out food,’ explained Sandra. ‘Every Friday I put in an order, they tell me what they’d have and I try and pick around, especially nutritious food. That’s how we get the bulk of our food.

‘Then we’ve got donations from Lidl. I use the Food Diverse app as well – charities can pick up surplus food from stores.

‘We also get donations from local farmers, vegetables. Every Monday I would go collecting in Drimoleague, from the butchers to Centra, the lady in the Chinese shop, McCarthy’s Bar, everybody has donated to us.

‘People still want to give back. You know, when people, get on their feet, they do come back and they help out, they are just so grateful. Clients coming together and bringing food, to share with others that’s lovely.’

The café offers a warm welcome; with Mark looking after the warehouse, Sandra and Sean helping guests choose from baskets, Debbie and Bernadette offering soup and bread, apple crumble tea or coffee.

‘A couple of homeless people will charge their phones there as well,’ said Sandra. We wouldn’t be able to do this without the Methodist church, giving us this place.’

Pupils from the national school visit at Christmas, bringing donations of grocery staples as well as seasonal treats such as selection boxes.

To support the Feed West Cork Christmas appeal people are asked to donate ambient, non-perishable goods, as well as frozen products, maybe with something more of a treat for the festive season.

Drop off at The Junction café, Drimoleague, on Tuesdays during opening hours from 10.30am to 12 noon or any time from 9.30am before the café begins its service.

Alternatively call 087 287 9118 to organise collection.

‘If you want to add one thing to your shopping list each week to help, choose from tins of beans, tea bags, sugar, tinned tomatoes, pasta sauce, rice or tuna,’ said Sandra.

‘During our first weeks open, we had five clients, and now we are feeding close to 80 weekly, kids and adults, so word gets out there. We are a diverse food bank that has nutrition constantly on its mind.

‘I personally get pleasure in handing it all out. We don’t get any funding, so that’s important to emphasise. We run on the generosity of the people of West Cork. That keeps us above board, paying for subscriptions and I do all collecting myself.’