OPERATION ANNAN (360G-SCVO-a0g0N00001gBSO2QAO)

WHAT DO WE PLAN TO DO? In 2015, The First Base Agency expanded the reach of our food bank activities by making emergency food parcels available from a network of collection points across the region we endeavour to support. We now have a chain of 25 such collection points. These are local libraries, social work offices, homeless department offices, housing association offices and partner charities. Nine of these collection points are situated in and around the small town of Annan. They are as follows. The Social Services, The Homeless Department, Annan Library, Citizen's Advice, Shelter, Kate's Kitchen, DGHP Homeless Accommodation, Eastriggs Library, Lochmaben Library. In October 2018, the Pinneys fish factory closed down causing 700 job losses. Annan's population is 8000 which means the impact of the factory closure has been huge. Demand for emergency food has risen dramatically as a result. Between 1 December 2018 and 31 March 2018 we anticipate this increase demand will mean an additional 400 emergency food parcels will be picked up from our nine collection points in the area. Each of our emergency parcels contains enough food to provide three meals per day for four days. We work on a set ingredient list and include a suggested menu to help make the items last four days. Before the Pinneys closure, 60% of the food we require was donated by churches, schools, offices, food businesses and families. The additional parcels we will be issuing in Annan will dilute this percentage to 50%. Basically, in order to meet the new demand in Annan we will have to buy in 100% of the required food. The ingredient cost of each emergency parcel is £9 giving a total additional cost of £3600. The food is contained in a strong cardboard box, each of which costs us 25p - £100 for 400 parcels. A further 25 delivery trips will be required to move the parcels from our main base in Dumfries – 1000 miles at 45p per mile - £450. WHY ARE WE DOING THIS WORK? The committment which drives our emergency food project is very simple: we do all we can to meet demand. We strive to raise the funds we need to ensure every food parcel we issue is made up with a set number of items which provide sufficient for three meals per day for four days. We do not 'ration' our food stocks. We have been issuing emergency food parcels for fifteen years and never once have we ever turned anyone away due to a lack of food. The impact the Pinneys closure will have on the small town of Annan could be as severe as the impact felt by small coal mining towns in the 1980s when they lost their pits. Our goal is to continue to meet demand, no matter how quickly the demand might grow. WHO WILL BENEFIT? 400 individuals and families in Annan and its surrounding area who find themselves in a position where they lack the means to purchase food. WHERE WILL THE PROJECT BE DELIVERED? Within a ten mile radius of Annan town centre.