Reverse your Advent Calendar with Arfon Foodbank

29/11/2019

The ideal is that people put food aside every day to share with someone less fortunate, and then taking them to the local foodbank. 

Lowri Jones from Arfon Foodbank said,

The idea is simple: rather than the usual advent calendar where you open a window a day to get a chocolate or some other small gift, you add a non-perishable food item or hygiene product to a box which you will then donate to your local food bank.

And contributions are much needed.  In October, 2.973kg of food was distributed in Arfon, with only 2.411kg collected. It was also estimated over the summer that if the rate of people needing their services would stay on the same level for the rest of the year, they would see a 27% increase in the demand.  

Lowri added,

Christmas should be a special time for everyone in society, but we know that this is not true and that many will be facing a crisis, have trouble feeding themselves and the family over Christmas.  December is always our busiest time of the year with a predicted increase of over 40% on previous months. At a time when many are facing hardship, those of us who are more comfortable should remember that it is better to give than to receive. 

Nine months into the current year, we have already provided food parcels for 1,864 people, 803 of them children. Food can be donated at many stores in Caernarfon and Bangor. We would be grateful of any donation, big or small.  Let us look after each other and give to those in need.

As well as the stores, there will also be collection points at the Gwyl Fwyd Caernarfon Christmas Fair (held in the former Celtica shop, Caernarfon on the 7th of December) and Galeri Caernarfon on the same date.   

The items urgently needed are tinned meat, tinned fruits, teabags, coffee, squashes, uht milk and breakfast cereals.