History of the CCF

Our Foodbank was founded in 2014 by Pastor Blesson Kallimel from the Victory Christian Fellowship and Independent Councillor and former Carterton Mayor, Lynn Little . Over these seven years, the Food Bank has relocated on four occasions but has always continued to support the community, especially during the past twenty months of the Covid pandemic.

Our Foodbank is needed now more than ever: in 2020/21 approximately 2.5 million people used a food bank in the United Kingdom; over 600,000 more than the previous year. This figure is expected to rise year after year. Many households in Carterton rely on us to assist them to feed their families with the food parcels we provide, but of course we are unable to do this without the kind support and donations from individuals and businesses in our community.

We want to expand our reach to those in Carterton who really need our support now more than ever. Not only do we want to help more families in need with much needed food, but we have also set up a drop in coffee morning on the last Wednesday of each month. The Sanctuary is also home to the Carterton Community Lunch Club which takes place on the last Thursday of every month, starting in November 2021. Thanks to the kind permission of the rector of the Sanctuary, the Lunch Club ofers a two-course hot meal to our members. We will reach more people in need with these regular events; they are completely free and will provide vulnerable people with a guidepost to access valuable assistance, a supportive community and even simply a hot meal that they normally would not have had. From November, we started operating a Community Fridge on a Monday morning and the Carterton Community Foodbank operates seven days a week where possible. 

Vulnerable people are referred to us by Government agencies, local schools, and some self-referrals. Without the continued support of people and organisations from the local community who support us with donations and volunteering, we would not have been able to achieve all that we have.