Bristol Churches City Fund: Giving financially to support those affected by Coronavirus
THE IMPACT OF THE CORONAVIRUS
Food poverty has been a sad reality for many people, with numbers increasing in recent years. The impact of the current Coronavirus crisis is profound, and the number of people reaching out for support from Foodbanks and other similar projects is growing by the day.
Very recently (week of 23rd – 28th March) the demand for food at just one of Bristol’s larger foodbanks tripled, and is continuing to increase.
The city benefits from significant food supplies through the work of FareShare South West (which thankfully continue to increase), alongside generous donations of food from the public (although direct donations of food have tailed off in recent weeks).
However, the growth in demand is such that there is an urgent need to buy-in certain key food items to ensure that Foodbanks can continue to meet the increasing demand.
At this time therefore, the Bristol Churches City Fund is partnering with Bristol Noise and Christian Action Bristol to raise funds for what is becoming a critical need across the city. This will enable some economies of scale to be achieved in buying food for the foodbanks, and will support the effort to get food to where it is most urgently needed.
There is an URGENT need to raise funds to ensure that we are able to meet that need. We would therefore ask for an outpouring of generosity from the church community across the city to contribute to this fund.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
This is a time for us as a church community, along with others across the city, to show a spirit of generosity and kindness.
Please give - we believe this to be a biblical imperative: “For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
Every donation made will be directed to providing much needed food to foodbanks across the city, and will make a huge difference to the lives of thousands of families.
You can help on a practical, immediate level by
PRAYING (we’re sure you’ll be doing this anyway).
Being GENEROUS in response to the urgent call to financially support the supply of food for the foodbank network across the city, through Bristol Churches City Fund https://bristolchurchescityfund.co.uk
SUPPORTING the ongoing work of Foodbanks and FareShare (www.christianactionbristol.org.uk/food-poverty).
Considering VOLUNTEERING time, facilitated by Bristol Noise (www.thenoise.org.uk/bristolchurchresponse).
LOOKING OUT for isolated and vulnerable people in the local community, or in the street where you live, to support where possible.
