Barrow Foodbank's Mother's Day appeal for mums facing crisis

The foodbank, which is part of The Trussell Trust charity, is appealing to help mums who may be facing hunger, are unable to provide food for their families or afford the basic toiletries - ahead of Mothering Sunday.

The service, based at Abbey Road Baptist Church, wants to ensure that local mums needing help get a little something extra this year.

Every week, Barrow Foodbank sees women struggling to afford food, let alone expensive items such as nappies and sanitary products. As Mother’s Day approaches, the charity is calling for donations of shampoo, sanitary products, nappies, shower gel and toothpaste to help local women and their children.

Ann Mills, foodbank manager, said: “Every day at the foodbank we meet mums from across south west Cumbria who share heartbreaking stories about the difficulties they face to put food on their children’s plates. No mum should feel like they have let their children down because something outside their control - like illness or an unexpected bill - has thrown the family into crisis. That’s why we give not only emergency food but also compassionate support and hope when people are referred to us.

"When you’re struggling to afford food, you’re often struggling to afford other basics like loo roll, shampoo and women’s sanitary products too.

"Perhaps unsurprisingly, toiletries are not the first thing most people think of when they’re donating to a foodbank, but they do make a huge difference in restoring some normality when you’re at the point of crisis.

"Whatever you are able to give this Mother’s Day will help local mums who are struggling to know that there are people who care. Thank you for your

kindness.”

On Mother’s Day last year Lydia*, a mum who was referred to a Trussell Trust foodbank after being made redundant from her job in a solicitor’s office, said: “Every mother wants the best for their children and teaches them that, in our society, if you work hard, you can achieve anything. I’ve always taught my son that. But how can I look him in the eye and tell him everything’s going to be okay when there’s no way I can promise that?

"Mother’s Day used to be a time when my son would thank me for being a good mum. But now I can’t say I really want to celebrate it. I feel like I have really let my boy down.”

Adrian Curtis, foodbank network director of the Trussell Trust said: “It’s surprising how much hope something small can bring; we hear of mums overwhelmed by the kindness of local people who have donated shower gel, nappies, sanitary products or a little chocolate.

"Foodbanks work hard to provide more than food, because people tell us that when you’re facing crisis it’s the little things, like a gift of shampoo or a small box of chocolates, which can help make you feel human again.”

Anyone interested in helping Barrow Foodbank to support a local mum facing hunger can make a financial donation at www.charitychoice.co.uk/barrowfoodbank or by dropping off donations at collection points instore at Asda, Morrisons, Tesco Extra, Tesco Flass Lane, all in Barrow, at Booths in Ulverston or Tesco in Millom.

Barrow Foodbank provides three days’ emergency food and support to local people in crisis.

In 2015-16, 7,219 three-day emergency food supplies were provided to people in crisis by the

foodbank. Of this number, 2,969 went to children.

Opening hours

Barrow Foodbank at Abbey Road Baptist Church is open from Monday to Thursday from 11am to 1pm and from 11am to 3pm on Friday. The Ulverston facility at Bethany Baptist Church, Brittain Place, Church Walk, is open from 11am to 1pm on Mondays, Wednesday and Thursdays. The centre at Crown Street Baptist Church Hall, Crown Street, Millom is 11am to 1pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.

*Lydia’s name has been changed to protect her identity.

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