Foodbank charity "overjoyed" to be Mayor's chosen charity
Salisbury Mayor, Jenny Bolwell, has selected Salisbury Foodbank has her good cause for the coming year
Salisbury Foodbank says it was a total surprise to be named as the new Mayor's charity for the year.
Cllr Jenny Bolwell took the Mayoral Chains on Saturday and said the foodbank is an organisation close to her heart.
Foodbank manager, Maria Stevenson, said: "It's an amazing opportunity to use this as a platform to deliver our message across the city. It's going to allow us to reach out to more people, make more people aware of what we do, who we are and how we can support them or their loved ones."
She added that the charity is "overjoyed" at being selected as the Mayor's good cause for the year, saying it came "out of the blue".
Cllr Bolwell, who was part of the group who got the community fridge into St. Michael's, hopes to be able to boost support for the foodbank, as well as encourage people to reach out for help.
Fundraising Development Executive, Clare Wooler, said it will help support ongoing projects, such as the partnership with Central Fruits allowing fresh fruit and veg to be delivered to people being supported by the foodbank.
I will also allow the organisation to continue offering support beyond food parcels, as it offers a Citizens Advice Advisor who can provide financial advice.
Removing stigma of asking for help
While Mayor Bolwell wants to raise a lot of money for the Foodbank, another of her aims to remove the stigma around people asking for help.
"It could happen to any of us, needing help," she said. "I want to lose the stigma because there is no shame in asking for help."
Maria told us the stigma is still very present in being a barrier to people asking for help.
"It takes a lot of guts and courage to speak up and say you need help in the 1st place and then reaching out to a charity for their support is the next stepping stone. I know that it is out there. I know that people still do worry about asking for help," she said.
She urged anyone needing help to seek it, highlighting the Council-run Wiltshire Wellbeing Hub, which can put people in touch with the foodbank.
She added: "You will be treated with such kindness and compassion when you come to access our service. And I don't know a charity out there that wouldn't offer that same compassion should you need some help
"Our end goal is to help people out of hardship. We have a nurturing team of volunteers. We sit down and signpost, we have a conversation over a cup of tea and we really try to get to know the individuals that come into our food bank, make them feel comfort and welcomed and leave with a smile on their face."