Emmaus Colchester stepped in and helped the Colchester Foodbank move from its former site on North Station Road to its new premises at the Tollgate Retail Park.
The move is a positive reflection on the support the Foodbank has received from the local community. Ann Barney, lead volunteer at Colchester Foodbank, said: “Our community has been so generous with food donations that we’ve had to move to find more space.”
The charity is busier than ever before, with the Christmas period and pandemic creating a higher demand for its service.
Over the festive season, a team of five from Emmaus Colchester, including both staff and companions, volunteered their time to help move four van loads of food items to the Foodbank’s new location. Ann said: “Emmaus Colchester gave us amazing help and support moving out of North Station Road and into our new premises at Stanway.”
Even though Emmaus is a charity itself, it’s part of the charity’s ethos to support others in need through acts of solidarity. Rob Wilkinson, driver at Emmaus Colchester, and one of the team that helped organise the move, said: “It’s good to help other people less fortunate than ourselves, especially with everything as it is at the moment. It’s nice to be involved in an act of solidarity.”
It’s not the first time that Emmaus Colchester has helped the Foodbank, as its previously provided support with plastering and with PAT testing electrical equipment.