Food hub delivers supplies to Stoke-on-Trent and Willenhall

The Salvation Army have committed to the establishment of a food distribution network across The Salvation Army territory - where bulk supplies of food are delivered on a regular basis into regional hubs to be shared and utilised for those people that need it the most. 

The food is ordered through The Salvation Army procurement team, and then as required, distributed to corps (churches) across each division, to enable them to restock their foodbanks and to provide corps provision to supply food when it is requested by families, individuals, social services or other associations, such as schools. 

Corps are supplied with ready to go bags of non-perishable food*, which can be re-organised or combined with other food items for making into food parcels/packs locally. For example, many of the corps have local relationships with supermarkets and others that make regular deliveries to them, so this food can be packed with the food received from the food distribution hub to fill any gaps. 

By the end of last week, Cradley Heath food distribution hub distributed 420 food supply bags around the West Midlands division and had 350 bags made up (ready for distribution to families and individuals) as required. 

The bags were packed by four volunteers from Cradley Heath corps plus the corps officers (Ministers). The corps at Cradley Heath have been offered help from volunteers, but due to social distancing, have had to limit the number of volunteers working together. A local coach company known to The Salvation Army has offered use of their drivers to deliver some of the larger orders to other corps around the division, using The Salvation Army emergency response vehicle. Deliveries were made to Stoke and Willenhall corps last week.

Minister of Cradley Heath corps, Major David Stephenson said: “It has been a privilege to be able to help corps within the West Midlands division as they show God's love in the giving of practical assistance to those suffering in these difficult times, and it has been wonderful to see the teamwork displayed by the staff and volunteers of Cradley Heath from the setting up and organising of the hub to the distribution of the food”.

*food bags contain: UHT milk, fruit juice, soup, pasta sauce, pasta, rice, tinned veg, baked beans, cereals, instant mash/tinned potatoes, tinned meat/corned beef, tuna.