Charity to mark key anniversary by delivering 100,000th food parcelTemplate

Derby Food 4 Thought Alliance is set to mark its fifth anniversary by delivering its 100,000th food parcel.

Formed to help and support people during the COVID-19 pandemic, the charity started in 2020 with a partnership of five projects – but it has now rapidly grown to 17 across the city.

To date, it has supported almost 110,000 adults and 85,000 children.

Paul Brookhouse, manager of the Derby charity, said: “We are an extremely small team and yet we do an enormous amount of work in Derby.

“Five years on, and DF4TA continues to see people struggling to feed their families and it is enormously upsetting that people suffer from food insecurity during this cost-of-living crisis.

“In one year, we can help 30,000 people in Derby and sometimes, we physically don’t have enough hours in the day.”

As well as supporting people who are facing food insecurity, DF4TA has expanded its offer to support families with school uniforms, winter coats, Christmas meals, hampers – and even furniture.

Paul said: “Life, for some people, can be particularly tough. To meet these challenges, we have worked hard to adapt and change, and the charity continues to do its very best.

“We are now a team of five people, and we are also lucky to have a brilliant team of volunteers who give up their time to help DF4TA or one of our food partners.

“The volunteers are a fantastic bunch of people who help us so much and we are always looking out for recruits.”

Last year, DF4TA launched a campaign to raise much-needed funds for the work it carries out.

It set out to find 100 businesses to sign up and commit to supporting the charity by giving £100 a month for the next 12 months.

Paul said: “This campaign, known as the 100 Club, gives local businesses the chance to get involved and sponsor us. Your £100 a month will feed 20 children for three days a month, or 240 children for a year.

“As well as the 100 Club, we do receive financial support from other people too.

“Sometimes, we receive donations from people who have completed fundraising events and nominated us as their charity.

“Every penny helps us to provide invaluable support to families and children across Derby.

“Right now, we know that thousands of people in Derby are relying on food support and numbers just keep going up.

“Without financial support, regular donations of food and more volunteers, our charity work will suffer.

“It’s our job to make sure that the most vulnerable in the city do not go hungry and in the last five years we have done that for many, many people.”

To donate food or funds, volunteer or sign up to the 100 Club visit www.derbyfood4thoughtalliance.org.uk.