WHEN a food bank trying to cope with the chaos of the cost-of-living crisis started getting drastically low on supplies, there was only one place to run to – their local running club.

Helping our Homeless Wales – a charity that helps people who are living in financial hardship, homeless, at risk of homelessness or recovering from homelessness in Wales – opened a hub in Builth Wells back in February 2021. Since then it has become a lifeline for local people and families struggling to feed themselves.

Located at the Old Scout Hut on the corner by Jewsons just across the bridge in Llanelwedd, progress has been rapid, with organisers now operating a food pantry and even setting up a luncheon club for locals.

But this month, there have been concerns, with supplies running critically low.

Builth & District Running Club (BaDRC) have stepped into action, with members collecting and then running supplies over to the hub before their weekly club run this past Wednesday.

County Times:

The club has a thriving membership, upwards of 150 people, and scores of them grabbed boxes crammed with baked beans, hot dogs, soups, cereal, meatballs, coffee, tea, milk and hot chocolate, and hot-footed it over the bridge, a sea of lycra and head torches, to meet up with hub co-ordinator Sarah Mason, before jogging off into the night.

“Last night BaDRC held its first Food Bank Run,” said the club on Thursday in a post on its social media channels.

“Our runners donated much-needed food to our local food bank at the Builth community hub.

“We were met by Sarah Mason who gave us a tour around the hub and showed us the food pantry where the shelves at this point were pretty much depleted and in great need of a fill-up.

“She explained to us just how much they do for our local community, which was definitely an eye-opener.

OTHER NEWS

“The demand is growing and they had ran out of most things so it was great to see how many of our runners donated to help re-stock those shelves.

“Thank you Sarah and your team for all you do; we ran and donated but you are the unseen heroes who face enormous challenges throughout the year helping our town and surrounding areas.”

In an earlier post promoting the event, the club said: “Why February? February is a key time of the year where families are hardest hit.

“Christmas has come and gone, a time where families feel the pressure to put food on the table and spend money on their children, plus there is a pause on some household bills.

“Then February arrives and suddenly the bills arrive at a time when cash is even more hard to come by. It will be great to see many club members get involved in this.”

County Times:

A spokesperson for the local hub said: “We are so grateful our local running club is helping us to restock our food pantry which urgently needs donations.

“We were overwhelmed that the club organised this food drop-off. The need has more than doubled locally so this support has been hugely appreciated as our pantry quickly becomes empty in the cost-of-living crisis.

“If anyone is sorting their cupboards can afford a tin of beans, ravioli etc, we truly will appreciate this for someone in need in our community.

“We will happily take anything to support our community if you can help in any small way.”

County Times:

In a post earlier in the week, they said the food bank urgently needs the help of local people. Items they are requesting include: baked beans, spaghetti hoops, hot dogs, peas, carrots, soups (canned and packet), cereal, tuna, tinned ham, meatballs, macaroni cheese, gravy granules, Smash, coffee, UHT milk, hot chocolate, teabags and biscuits.

If you’d like to help your local food bank out or find out more about the work they do in and around Builth, visit the Builth Wells Community Hub - part of HOHW Facebook page.

Alternatively, visit the website at http://helpingourhomelesswales.org/, email sarah@helpingourhomelesswales.org or pop into the hub, located at the Old Scout Hut.