Help us support local food banks

The JFA Mansfield Community Foodbank Partnership and the Sherwood Forest Foodbank set up by the Trussel Trust organisation offer the last line of support, helping to feed those who are hungry when there is nowhere else to turn.

The Chad is supporting both organisations and we hope our big hearted readers can help them rise to the challenge this Christmas.

If half of the population of Mansfield donated just one tin of food to a foodbank, nobody in the town would have to go hungry.

That is the message for JFA Mansfield Community Foodbank Partnership, which is hoping to aim high with its one tin a month campaign.

The Voluntary Mansfield Community Food-Bank Partnership was set up by the Joint Forces Alliance and has already provided two weeks food parcels for an estimated 300 people in Mansfield.

They have been asking people to support their monthly donations for people struggling and they’re also involved in supporting the homeless in the winter.

Jason Rathbone, who set up the project two years ago, said: “The one a month campaign is where we encourage everyone who can to give just one tin or packet of food a month to any of your local food banks. Together we can end food poverty overnight, if we mean it. We try to provide two week’s food at any one time for the people who are referred to us.

“It’s not just the homeless needing food , but those living in poverty, the situation is bad at the moment and is possibly going to get worse.

“Mansfield has a population of 100,000-plus, and if we can get half of them bringing in one tin a month, that’s 50,000 we’ll have and nobody need go hungry.”

Now each Christmas the volunteers join forces in a Christmas Cook Off with the Beacon Project which supports homeless people in Mansfield based in the old Church Hall on Wood Street.

On Christmas Day at 5pm they load their Mark 1 Army cooker with hot stew and chilli, and hand out sandwiches and cakes to make the day a bit more bearable for homeless people.

They are looking for donations of non-perishable goods, which can be stored at room temperature, such as tinned meat and veg, packs of rice or pasta.

The food must be in date.

Jason added: “To date we have given out enough food to the equivalent of feeding one adult for four years. We try to give out two weeks worth of food at a time though we’d like to give more.

We have handed out 155 food parcels since September 2013 to September 2014 and more and more agencies are asking for referrals, Nottingham County Council, Mansfield District Council and now Crisis Point.”

The organisation was originally set up by former serviceman Jason to help those leaving the armed forces to adjust to civilian life.

He said: “It has been humbling when we witness the extreme generosity displayed by the local communities, individuals and groups, in their donating.

“The town of Mansfield is wrapping its arms round those in greatest need and that makes Mansfield a pretty beautiful place.”

Donations of food can be dropped off at Mansfield Advicehub, Regent Street; Pleasley Landmark Centre on Chesterfield Road South, Buddies Bright Square, Bull Farm; William Ireland Hall Clumber Court, Mansfield; Westfield Lane Community Centre, CVS on Barrow Hill Walk Oaktree Lane estate; Probation Services, Arrival Square Mansfield.

Money contributions are welcome - JFA need to put fuel in the van and buy fuel for the cooker.

If you want to make a cash donation, text jfas36 followed by a £ and the amount to 70070, for example : jfa36£5.