Tomorrow is National Food Bank Day, and what better excuse to celebrate our local food banks and the invaluable help they provide to communities?
The occasion is marked on the first Friday of September and highlights the continuing problem of hunger globally. National Food Bank Day is a reminder that no one should go to bed hungry. Food banks provide food to the poor with the help of volunteers and social workers. They also promote tools for self-sufficiency. This day is to honour those workers, volunteers, and food bank charities who work in this regard.
Known for their generosity and community spirit, Cumbrians have always supported food banks, which play a key role in the life of the county. Our main image shows a Teddy Bears Picnic and fun session at Egremont Methodist Church, where food bank member John Roberts was on hand to provide entertainment.
Above, Major Dawn Sellers from the Salvation Army drops into Parkfield Nursery to collect their harvest festival goods to take to Carlisle Food Bank. Clockwise from left are Major Sellers, James Morgan, Amber Cross, nursery nurse Jessica Haughey, Chloe Robinson, Luke Caddle and Sam Graham.
Another of the food bank’s supporters was Morrisons in Carlisle, which donated trolley loads of unsold food. Pictured with some of it are staff Michelle Atkinson (left) and Kelly Heslop.
Thinking along similar lines was the Tesco Victoria Viaduct store in Carlisle, where community champion Melanie Aitchinson, Fiona Taylor, Darren Hewer, volunteer Sue Driscoll and Jo Buxton are shown with donations.
Customers of The New Bookshop in Cockermouth were asked for children's books to be distributed by local food banks at Christmas. Sue Bell from the bookshop (left) smiles for the camera with local author Chris Bower and his wife Jacqui.
Moor Row School donated food hampers to the North Lakes Food Bank from their harvest festival in 2015.
When Ramsden Street United Reformed Church marked its 100th anniversary the same year, it aimed to collect 100 tins for Barrow Food Bank and ended up with almost twice as many.
The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, visited the food bank as part of the Believe in Barrow festival.
Our final image is of Dalston Cubs and their magnificently decorated food bank shopping trolley.
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