A £1,300 donation has been made to Thanet Food Link thanks to the efforts of calligrapher Jenny Collier, who has a studio in Cliftonville.
The food bank organisation, which operates from St Paul’s Church in Cliftonville and from St Peters Baptist Church in partnership with resident Kate Grant, says the funding will provide between 130 and 150 food bags for people in need.
Currently Thanet Food Link is providing some 200 food parcels every week with each one containing enough for three meals a day over three days.
To support HM The King’s Coronation Food Project, The Royal Warrant Holders Association have created a special fund of 10, £1000 grants for food-bank related charities.
Jenny is director of London Scribes, Calligraphers by appointment to the Royal household. She successfully applied to the fund on behalf of the company to support Thanet Food Link and London Scribes topped the amount up to £1300.
Jenny, who has worked from her Northdown Road studio since 2015, said: “Having worked on the invitations to the Coronation this year, it’s a joy to be able to help Thanet Food Link continue their fantastic work delivering food to those in need.
“I am so thrilled for them. They do amazing work and hopefully this donation will bring some smiles to faces for Christmas.”
High demand
Thanet Food Link’s charities coordinator Heather Weitzel said: “It’s absolutely amazing, Jenny wanted to give to the community and it’s a lovely thing to do.
“It means we will be able to provide 130-150 more bags of food to people who just can’t afford things at the moment.
“All our food is donated freely and then given out freely. We have 60 volunteers packing bags to go out and we are giving out around 200 per week so Jenny’s contribution is hugely appreciated, as are all of the contributions we receive.
“Demand in winter is always higher, last winter was astronomical. This year is still very high but not quite reaching the number from last winter although it’s very close.
“People just can’t afford the [utilities] and food, it is often one or the other and we have so many people being made homeless as well.
“We are very grateful to Jenny for her donation and for all donations which are very much needed at the moment.”
More than 10 years of Thanet Food Link
Thanet Food Link was set up in 2013 and aimed at ‘helping people out’ for a few years. However, in May it marked its 10th anniversary.
The organisation was started by the late Paul Trumble with a vision of helping those out who were struggling. But the short-term solution became a long-term project, particularly as the covid pandemic hit in 2020 followed by the current cost of living crisis.
It became a charity in 2016 and takes referrals from agencies working with people in need including children’s centres, support agencies, schools, associations supporting disabled people, community centres and NHS Health Trainers as well as enquiries from those in need.
TFL had given out close to 40,000 parcels in 10 years.
After registering, the charity provides a minimum of three days emergency food.
The easiest way to register is to come to one of the sites below during distribution times:
St Pauls Church, Cliftonville CT9 2RD
Monday 10.30am – 12 noon
Tuesday 10.30am – 12 noon
Thursday 10.30am – 12 noon
St Peters Baptist Church CT10 2SG
Friday 10.30am – 12 noon
People can donate food, money or time as a volunteer:
Find out more at https://thanetfoodlink.org.uk/getting-help
London Scribes
Jenny will be holding calligraphy workshops at Margate’s Little Swift in Marine Drive from next March.
Find out more about her at londonscribes.com
