Rochdale Foodbank back to normal after repairs

Work has now been completed to repair flooring at Rochdale Foodbank

After a sudden and urgent need for repairs at Rochdale’s Foodbank in December, the facility battled through the busy Christmas period and work has now been completed to restore the building back to its normal operating conditions.

The home of the foodbank in the centre of Rochdale left its volunteer workers with less than half their normal working space, as it was revealed that the floor needed replacing in the middle section of the building.

Despite this, the foodbank still provided much-needed services with their rising demand, especially throughout December when donations rocketed to 9,026 kilos with 5,134 kilos given out to 471 adults and 252 children.

John Rowe, from Rochdale Foodbank, said: “When some volunteers first noticed tins sliding off the shelves in the picking area, I thought it was my fault for overloading them. Then others noticed the forward tilt in the shelving.

“When we moved the shelves, the gap between the floorboards and the skirting was quite extraordinary. We learnt that the whole floor in the middle section had to be replaced.

“Since then volunteers have been working in, let’s just say, somewhat cramped conditions.”

Iain Wight, who set up the foodbank with his wife, Margaret, said: “It’s thanks to the amazing efforts made by everyone that the foodbank has remained open throughout the repairs.

“During the same period, the number of donations we received have been astonishing via our Tesco collection, collections by Rotary and huge donations through churches, schools and other organisations during the Harvest and pre-Christmas periods.

“Thanks to everyone who has helped with the collecting, dating, sorting and storing of all the food – a huge task which is still ongoing with only 240 more boxes to sort.”

Despite typically receiving the majority of their donations during harvest and at Christmas, the donations received by the foodbank must last all year so there is enough to go around.

Set up in 2012, the foodbank operates on a voucher system, provided by over 130 agencies in Rochdale who have identified people in crisis, who may struggle to buy food. The voucher is honoured like a cheque, in exchange for three-days’ worth of goods.

Last year, more than 6,600 three-day emergency food supplies were given to people in crisis at Rochdale Foodbank, providing more than 2,200 children with provisions.