Daily Info welcomes the OX4 Food Crew for a guest blog covering their Winter Appeal.
We are the OX4 Food Crew and we’ve recently launched our Winter Appeal! We’re a diverse groups of organisations- mostly small or very small- in East Oxford working to alleviate food poverty for families, the elderly, people out of work, people in work, people living in temporary accommodation…everyone who needs us. Our aim is to make sure that “everyone in OX4 has enough food and can thrive” and each week we provide around 800 families with food. At this festive time it is as simple as local people trying to be there for other local people who are struggling to get by. But we need the support of the wider Oxford community. The OX4 Food Crew groups have come together to collectively raise funds together in their “Winter Appeal”.
The OX4 Food crew is made up of Oxford Mutual Aid, Oxford Community Action, WateTaste, City Farm, ArkT, Flo’s the Place in the Park, Syrian Sisters, Donnington Doorstep and No Vice Ice.
During the winter services are particularly stretched, and this year the cost of living crisis has made things even tighter than before. More people than ever before are accessing the services, but sadly there are waiting lists to receive regular parcels, people get turned away from drop in services and the phone rings non-stop for emergency parcels.
But the OX4 Food Crew is firmly of the belief that we are stronger together! Together we can share resources, share information and in this case share a fundraising appeal.
One of our challenges is that due to food being more expensive there is less food surplus being produced by supermarkets. Whilst this is great for some, it means that charities who rely on food surplus to fill their food parcels are left shortchanged. There is simply less surplus in the system, so there is also less food to be given out.
Last year we tackled this by doing a “bulk purchase” and collectively buying and storing thousands of kilos of food and using this to supplement their parcels. We’re hoping to do the same again this year.
By donating to the winter appeal you will be contributing to making our fellow citizen’s lives a bit brighter this winter.
- £12 can pay for someone to have a 3 course Christmas lunch at a community venue
- £60 could provide 36 households with a 1kg bag of rice each in their weekly food parcel.
- £100 Is enough to prepare and deliver a hot meal to 10 families living in temporary accomodation who lack the facilities to cook
- £800 Would cover the monthly rent and overheads for one of our partner organisations food distribution hubs during the winter
Can’t donate yourself but want to help anyway? Maybe you sing in a choir, or run a business or can cook delicious treats? perhaps there is a way you can run a fundraiser for us this year. It’s the right thing to do…plus it could be a fun thing to do in the run up to Christmas or in the dreary January.
Although an overall wealthy city, OX4 is home to four of the 10-20% most deprived wards nationally. Over 30% of children in Rose Hill, Blackbird Leys and Iffley are living in food poverty. Inequality in average life expectancy is stark for many residents of OX4 too. For example, men in Northfield Brook next to Blackbird Leys – one of the poorest wards in the city die on average at 75 years– 15 years younger than their counterparts living in North ward, just north of St Giles, which is one of the city’s most affluent areas.
Stories of change:
“I just wanted to drop a line as I just received a food parcel…and just wanted to say thank you, I was so embarrassed to have to ask for help. My daughter in law contacted you and I even had to ask my daughter to go to the door to collect it. For my children to receive fresh fruit and a chocolate treat was amazing and I wish you could have seen the smiles. Thank you again.”
Recipient of food parcels from Oxford Mutual Aid.
“S and her husband , both 84 years old, have been receiving cooked meals twice a week from W2T since the beginning of the pandemic . They live in extremely poor housing conditions with no access to cooking facilities. Thanks to our support and other partners of the OX4 Food Crew, they can enjoy a delicious, cooked meal every day of the week and have a little chat, build relationships with the volunteers who deliver their meals”
Sandra, Organiser with Waste 2 Taste
“The meals transformed her. She was was under 6 stone and put on a lot of weight. She was so excited. It was like a little treat every week. She went without before'”
Says Sam, a parent receiving food parcels through the Food Crew (not real name)
“Thank you so much, you're a group of angels! My food parcel this week is amazing. Your service is crucial for people like me and my situation is not unique. Once again thank you for your support.'”
Says Vanessa, food parcel recipient through the Food Crew (not real name