THE business community has rallied around the appeal for help from the Teignmouth Mutual Aid Community Larder, raising £250 at an event at Old Walls Vineyard. Originally the Larder was set up to support vulnerable people during the pandemic but quickly evolved into supporting people who needed help with food and essentials. Over the last two years, they have helped over 200 people and are now supporting around 135 people, 53 of whom are children.

‘We pack a weekly box for each individual or family who needs one. Usually, the number is around 90 individuals who need food in any one week. Sometimes people only need for a short interval while they get back on their feet, while others might help our support for longer.’ Explains Jackie Jackson, who runs the charity with her husband, Roger. ‘We always need funding, but in particular we were raising money for the Christmas Day Box we gave to each family or individual. This is extra to their weekly box, and included Christmas traditional food and treats, like crackers, or mince pies, Christmas cake or pudding and all the trimmings that go with a turkey joint, which a wonderful business provided. We also raised funds to give each child we support a special Christmas present, selected for them. One of the team at Stephens Scown Solicitors raised £475 to help us, thank you Dave Robbins!’

Lesley Anderson of Hedgerow Marketing, based in Teignmouth, has been helping the Community Food Larder since September 2022. ‘We started off giving food donations every month at a business network meeting, but it became clear that what they really need right now is money. The organisers know what the families need, and the money allows them to provide more than just the food essentials. It’s tragic that this is needed in Teignmouth but it’s a fact of life that many people who are working, still need help feeling their families.’

At a Christmas network event hosted at Old Walls Vineyard, the group raised £250 for the Community Food Larder’s Christmas appeal. ‘We love the idea that we can make a difference to someone’s Christmas. Longer term, we’re thinking about how we can support the food bank. They need regular commitments of money so they can plan ahead and provide more support. They have about 30 volunteers already, but help collecting shopping would be appreciated.’ Lesley added. ‘If anyone wants to make monthly donations, it would be a very generous and kind thing to do.’

Interested parties can find the food bank on Facebook as Teignmouth Mutual Aid Community Larder and contact Jackie to offer donations or help.