Did you know that the Somer Valley Foodbank gives out more than just food? We certainly do. Just providing food is only the start of the process to helping clients, help themselves out of a predicament.

The foodbank is designed to help individuals and families in crisis through the provision of emergency food supplies but it doesn't stop there.

When a client comes to the foodbank they get enough food for the size of family they are, to last at least three days but it will usually last longer than that. Most clients are very surprised and grateful for the food they receive. But besides the food parcel they get extra 'goodies' and advice on how to get further help to get them out of the situation they find themselves in. It is not just handing out food because that would only perpetuate food poverty.

There is always a 'help yourself' table with items that do not fit into a balanced diet but which have been donated by the local community and which are useful to our clients or which give them an added extra which they wouldn't normally afford. For example, we have speciality teas, flour, pickled onions, beetroot and other items we would not normally put in a food parcel. Clients can then choose their favourites.

Clients are also given household cleaning products, personal hygiene items and sanitary products to help them in the short term crisis they are in. These are items that they may not be able to afford at the time of coming to the foodbank.

We have also been able to give out recipe books designed to make managing on a budget easier, along with information on services that can help with income maximisation.

Thanks to offers from businesses we have been able to give out other items such as reconditioned laptops, phone cards with six months free, calls amongst other things. Crucially, clients are given the opportunity to chat and offload their burdens if they so wish, and sometimes that is all they need; a listening ear.

By going to one of the local care professionals in the area for a voucher the clients are showing us and the agency that they want to help themselves get out of the situation they find themselves in.

We encourage and commend them for doing so. Vouchers can be obtained from Welfare Support, Citizen's Advice Bureau, Health visitors, DHI, Family Support, The Compassionate Hub, Housing Associations, Schools and many other support agencies.

The Somer Valley Foodbank has four distribution centres; The Salvation Army Hall in Midsomer Norton on Mondays, The Cellar at Paulton Methodist Church on Wednesdays , St Nicholas Church Tearooms Radstock on Wednesdays and Peasedown Methodist Church on Fridays.

For more details contact Paul Woodward on [email protected] or visit the website at www.somervalley.foodbank.org.uk