Charity donates food to Norfolk Salvation Army 

Hundreds of people supported by The Salvation Army in Norfolk and Suffolk were able to enjoy Christmas dinner thanks to a group of farmers who donated food to people in need.

Food donations were organised by The Buckingham Emergency Food Appeal (BEFA). Just before Christmas, leaders from Salvation Army churches including Thetford, Dereham, Norwich, Snettisham, Stowmarket and Woodbridge were invited to BEFA’s Norfolk base to pick up items including 40kg of potatoes, 20kg of onions, turkey crowns and bacon. In all, seventeen Salvation Army churches gratefully received generous food donations.
 
BEFA began in 1985 when its founder Mike Buckingham took his children to the theatre in London and saw homeless people sleeping under Waterloo Bridge. Mike then worked closely with The Salvation Army in North Walsham after he set up BEFA and the appeal has been supporting churches in the area, as well as other separate charities, ever since.
 
Major Alan Hill, leader of The Salvation Army in Woodbridge, said: “When you think of the hardships the farmers have been going through, their generosity is simply amazing. Thanks to them, hundreds of people in our community enjoyed warm meals at our lunch clubs and on Christmas Day. On behalf of the other leaders and the people we support, I want to say a huge thank you. The donations really do make a huge difference and mean that people who may otherwise have had nothing have something to enjoy at this time of the year.”
 
Major Kevin Pitt, Salvation Army leader in Stowmarket echoed Alan’s thoughts: “We’re very grateful. They are tremendously generous and gave us more than we were expecting. I only went to collect in a little car and was worried that I wouldn’t be able to fit all the food in it! We were able to provide people with a whole Christmas dinner and were also able to share the food to help others in need in our area.”
 
Ken Smith, BEFA coordinator, said he and his team often receive letters of thanks from people who benefit from the donations. “This is why we do it really – when you hear from people who have benefitted and the meals or parties they have enjoyed, you think this is why we are doing what we are doing.”
 
For more about BEFA, visit:  befafoodappeal.co.uk

Visit salvationarmy.org.uk 
 
The image above is courtesy of BEFA.