Source: S6 Foodbank

A #ForAllSheffield campaign to fund one million meals for Sheffield residents has been launched by S6 Foodbank, after the charity more than doubled in size in a year.

The charity grew from four to 11 foodbanks around the city, with 150 people previously receiving support to around 1200 people each week.

Alison Wise, a communications specialist and volunteer at S6 Foodbank, explained that the title of the campaign reflects their aim to reach and support the whole city.

She said: “We’re called S6 Foodbank because that’s where we started and where our main office is, but we actually support people in about 12 postcodes all over the city.

“We have a foodbank in Crookes and Sharrow, which are affluent areas in Sheffield, but there is also extreme poverty. This is something that affects the whole city, not just S6 or council estates.”

So far, the campaign has raised roughly £19,000 from donations and funding. The charity are currently looking for more corporate support to help them reach £150,000 (a million meals) by the end of the financial year.

Ms Wise said: “Individual people giving £20 is incredible, but corporates can afford to give much more. So, we’re really trying to develop that area of the organisation.

“We do have some amazing corporate supporters like the Milestone Group and Ink at Kelham Island. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club and supermarkets like ASDA and Tesco also help us out a lot.”

During the Covid-19 pandemic, more people have relied on foodbanks after losing their jobs or being made redundant.

Ms Wise explained: “We don’t want to be here; we don’t want there to be foodbanks. But the bottom line is that we’re not going anywhere at the moment.”

S6 Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks operating across the UK. Their main warehouse is on Gilpin Street.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/ForAllSheffield or follow progress at @s6foodbank and https://sheffields6.foodbank.org.uk/.