Aberaeron Food Bank has provided 2,700 meals to people in the community within a year of distributing its first food parcel.

The first parcel was distributed on 18 December 2020. Within a year, the food bank has distributed 86 parcels to members of the community in the Aberaeron area who have faced hardship and have not been able to buy food.

Two thirds of the households who have received a food parcel in the last year have had at least one child.

Dafydd Tudur, an Aberaeron Food Bank volunteer said: “With a year having passed since we provided the first parcel and as we celebrate Christmas, we have been in a reflective mood at the food bank.

“First and foremost, we have been deeply saddened at the level of need in our community. Two thirds of the households we have provided parcels for have had children in them; many of them have been young children, and we have often needed to provide nappies.

“With every request for a food parcel, we see the reality of the challenges that many people face in our community today.

“We have also seen cause for so much hope. Individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses have been incredibly generous and responsive to our calls for food and other items.

“The community has come together to help one another. We’re very grateful for all the support we’ve received over the last year and we are certain that this support will continue in the new year.”

The food bank was established in late November 2020, mostly by members of local chapels and churches.

It uses the same referral process used by other food banks in the county where requests for food parcels are made by support services such as social services or GPs to support people in need.

All collections and distributions are made in line with coronavirus public health requirements.

Updates on collection dates and the kinds of food most needed by the food bank are available on their facebook page, “Banc Bwyd Aberaeron Food Bank”.