Okehampton Food Bank would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Okehampton United Charities (OUC) for their generous support this year. Their funding has enabled us to use a dedicated room at the Ockment Centre, providing a safe, accessible, and welcoming space for our vital work.
Having a secure base has greatly improved the way we store and distribute food, meet clients confidentially, and create a warm, welcoming environment for those who need our help. Importantly, this dedicated room has also enabled us to invite advisors from Citizens Advice and Community Links to attend our sessions. As the only food poverty charity used exclusively by both organisations, we are able to ensure that individuals and families not only receive emergency food support but also have direct access to essential guidance on benefits, debt, housing, and wellbeing, helping them move towards longer-term stability.
OUC’s support has strengthened every part of our service. As the only free-to-use food poverty charity serving the Okehampton area, we rely on the generosity of local organisations and donors who share our commitment to supporting those in need.
The funding comes at a crucial time. Demand for our services continues to rise, and OUC’s grant enables us to provide not only essential non-perishable items but also fresh, nutritious food and vital personal hygiene products. For many facing financial hardship, these basic necessities, so important for health, dignity, and well-being, have become increasingly unaffordable.
Thanks to OUC, we are now able to offer a wider range of fresh fruit, vegetables, and dairy products, as well as expand our supply of personal care items such as soap, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, and baby essentials.
In addition, OUC has generously awarded a 75% grant to cover our main operating costs for the next 12 months. Each week, we see the impact of this support: the gratitude of a parent collecting fresh produce, the relief of someone receiving personal care items they could not otherwise afford, and the restored dignity that comes from meeting basic human needs.
On behalf of everyone at the Okehampton Food Bank and the many people we serve, we extend our deepest thanks to Okehampton United Charities. Your support allows us to continue our vital work with compassion, dignity, and care.
Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the lives of local people.
Okehampton Food Bank
Nourishing Neighbours, Feeding Futures
