YMCA continues delivery of food parcels

With lockdown now in full swing, local community organisations are ensuring that those in need are getting what they need to stay safe and survive.

In Portadown, the YMCA have been hard at work having delivered over 140 food parcels to those in need.

They also have another 80 boxes ready to go out over the next week.

Speaking about the operation, YMCA Portadown’s General Secretary, Darryn Causby, said he is delighted with the amount of food his team has been able to secure.

“We are very pleased with the resources we have been able to bring in and the amount of foodstuffs we have been able to get our hands on,” said Mr Causby.

“Over a few short weeks, we have been able to deliver 140 boxes and have another 80 all set to go out over the course of the next week.

“Moutray’s Costcutter are supplying the products. We are able to access their supply chain so there is no restriction on what we can buy and P&G Family Foods on the Brownstown Road and Kitchen Bakes have also been very helpful.

“They have offered up their freezer space and I have been really encouraged by business support in general.”

Explaining what makes up a typical food parcel, Darryn said: “We are trying to fill the boxes with non-perishable goods where possible and, when we can get our hands on it and the date on it is good, we will put fresh items in as well.

“Typically we supply teabags, pasta and rices, pasta in sauces as well. We are trying to put in some tinned goods and some treats as well –  biscuits and crisps and sugar. We are grateful to White’s Oats for supplying several hundred packets of porridge and that is able to go in along with hand soap and toilet roll.

“It has been good to be able to get a variety of things in the boxes, things that people will use over a number of days but also have a good shelf life on them.”

It is not just the elderly or those who have been shielding that have availed of these food parcels. Families and younger people in need are also supported by the YMCA and their partner organisation’s efforts.

“Where possible we have been able to support families or individuals in need,” said Darryn. “It might be a case of ill health or loss of employment or just through circumstances that are completely unusual or through no fault of their own.”

“The other side of that, of course, is that if you have fallen on hard times, it is important to know the government is still supporting food banks and you may be entitled to access them.

“What we are trying to do is catch people who are maybe slipping through the net.”

With lockdown set to last at least another week, YMCA Portadown is confident it has the resources to ensure that it will get through this challenging time.

“With current supplies and with the resources we know we have, we should be able to get another 50-60 boxes pulled together,” said Darryn.

“With that amount of stuff we have, we should be able to get through the next fortnight comfortably, unless there is a spike in demand.

“We do have a number of repeat requirements for some of the boxes for those who have maybe not got access to family for various reasons and we want to make sure they are looked after and called with.

“We are trying to make sure our resources last that long but also trying to be frugal with our finances. We need to maximise what we can get for the boxes.”

A project of this scale requires funding and would not be possible without the generous support of other community organisations and local businesses.

“We are working with a number of partner organisations to pool our resources and we are also very grateful that the community has responded very positively to what we are doing,” said Mr Causby.

“We have been able to raise several thousand pounds for food supplies. Oasis Youth Club provided us with £500 and Portadown Football Club Youth have provided us with £1,000.

“Other donations have come in through Portadown Football Club and other individuals and companies have donated smaller amounts as well. All of that has meant we have been able to achieve what we have achieved so far.”

Speaking about why the club chose to donate £1,000 to the YMCA Portadown’s efforts, the Vice Chairman of Portadown Football Club Youth, Alan Curran, said: “We have had a relationship with the YMCA, we have worked with them in the past and we wanted to give something back to the community.

“We felt it was important to do it in partnership with the YMCA because they have the links into the community and we know the good work they do. It has been great to provide that financial support that enables them to go in and support the people in need in the community.

“This money came from the club. We looked at activities that will be taking place over the next couple of months and we set aside money to make a contribution towards this project.

“It won’t stop us doing those activities when we come back but we felt it was important to give something back to the community during the current situation.”

If you would like to help the team’s effort or know of anyone in need you can get in touch with YMCA Portadown by phone on 02838 332321. You can also find them on Facebook (YMCA Portadown) and Twitter (@ymcaportadown).

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