From the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity foodbank monies given to the South Eastern Group, it was decided to allocate a portion to each of the Masonic meeting places within the South Eastern Area, to donate to foodbanks within their respective neighbourhoods.
South Eastern Group Vice Chairman Nigel Paton was asked to locate a worthy recipient within the area of The Grange Club, his Masonic meeting place. He selected as beneficiary, the Chelwood Foodbank Plus, which is a foodbank situated in Edgeley that serves two of the most deprived and struggling areas within the Stockport community.
Chelwood Foodbank Plus has been serving Stockport since 2013. They provide urgent practical support to local people. In the last 12 months, they issued 2,700 food parcels and supported 4,050 adults and 2,551 children. Everything they do is made possible by their team of wonderful volunteers. Without these amazing souls they truly could not function. There is a place for everybody to use their strengths and gifts here in the foodbank family.
By not part of a large chain of foodbanks, it allows Chelwood Foodbank Plus is to deliver their service in a truly holistic manner. They can help those that need them the most, without the constriction of red tape and unrealistic administrative policies. Unfortunately, this also means that they do not receive food from supermarket chains that have signed agreements with large national charities. Thus, they are totally reliant on the support of their local community.
Nigel Paton went to meet staff at Chelwood Foodbank Plus and they were extremely appreciative of the very kind donation of £500 and assured Nigel that it would be faithfully applied and would greatly assist them in helping those in need of assistance, especially at this time of the year.