THE Llandrindod Wells Foodbank hit a proud, if somewhat melancholy milestone, earlier this month.

They announced last week that the foodbank had donated food to local people on 3,000 occasions in the last financial year – with almost 20,000 kilograms of food donated and dispensed since April 2020.

Having opened in 2013, the foodbank give out emergency food parcels to those in the local community that cannot afford to buy food for themselves and their families. People are referred by professionals from one of over 40 different agencies and charities in the surrounding area.

A foodbank spokesperson said last Tuesday: “Thanks to your amazing generosity before, during and after Christmas, the foodbank is quite well stocked at the moment except for UHT milk and we gave out the last of our stocks earlier this week.

“We are at the moment still having a minimum of 30 referrals a week, which means 30+ cartons a week are needed every week. If you can help us that would be great.

“Today also saw a milestone in the foodbank, one I wish had never been necessary.

“This financial year so far we have given food over 3,000 times to people in the Llandrindod area and 1,294 of those were children. You have all been amazing as that means that we have given out 19,567kg of donated food since April 2020.

“Thank you all so much. Take care of yourselves and stay safe.”

Food given out by the foodbank is donated. They always require donations and currently receive these from schools, churches, businesses, individuals and through supermarket collections.

Individuals in need of food are referred by professionals from statutory and voluntary organisations such as doctors, health visitors, social workers, Citizens Advice Bureau staff, welfare officers, the police and probation officers.

They are issued with a foodbank voucher and bring their voucher to the foodbank where it can be exchanged for a three-day supply of emergency food. The list of foods in each parcel have been designed by dieticians to provide recipients with nutritionally balanced food.

While food is being packed, volunteers will sit and chat with clients over a cup of tea or coffee. This enables us to hear people's stories and perhaps signpost them to agencies who can offer additional help and begin to resolve any underlying difficulties.

Llandrindod foodbank is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 11am-1pm, and Wednesdays from 1pm-2.30pm, and they are located at Crescent Chambers in town.

The full address is Crescent Chambers, South Crescent, Llandrindod Wells, LD1 5DH. You can contact them by phone on 07519 839 189 or email them at info@llandrindod.foodbank.org.uk.