Ammanford Foodbank has raised more than 800kg of food in three days in the run up to Christmas, to help people in the community who are struggling to pay for food.
Between Thursday, December 1 and Saturday, December 3, volunteers from the foodbank were present at Tesco in Ammanford and Pontarddulais collecting food.
After the three days, the foodbank measured that they had reached a total of 816kg of food.
Cheryl from Ammanford Foodbank said: “The people in this community have been exceptionally kind. We are really grateful to all the donations made by everybody, especially during the cost-of-living crisis.
“We also have to thank our volunteers. They have been unbelievable. We have more than 20 volunteers who give their hours every week in the freezing cold, dating the food and organising our warehouse base.”
The organisation has two set collections at Tesco each year, with a collection point permanent in the supermarket throughout the year.
There is also a collection point at Lidl in Ammanford and Cross Hands this festive period, as the foodbank launches its toy donation campaign.
The campaign also sees local businesses and organisations donate money to the foodbank, who then buy toys for the children across the region.
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Cheryl added: “Plenty of companies have got involved and donated money. We will then go out and buy the toys locally. We’re big supporters of shopping locally and supporting the businesses in our community.
“Whenever a family come in for support and advice from us this Christmas period, if that family has a child, the child will receive a toy and some stocking filler.”
Many of the companies involved in the scheme are permanently partnered with the foodbank.
“It’s our partners who refer people to us,” Cheryl said. “It’s not a case of people just come walking in and ask for support from us.
“Providing food is only the immediate reaction. If people are unable to provide food for their family, especially during the cost-of-living crisis, the support is about finding that root cause.
“Our entire focus is built on the aim of people not having to come back to us. We want to resolve and intervene before we hit a crisis.”
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