Save the Mothers trust has teamed up with Bradford Lions Club to launch it’s very own food bank!

The Food Bank, launching this Thursday (27th March 2014), aims to provide much needed food for those in the community that have been affected by recent benefit cutbacks. The Number of families relying on food banks in Bradford drastically increased in July, 2013, the monthly food parcel distribution rose in from 109 in 2011 to 722 in 2013.  This number is predicted to increase this year.

Save the Mothers trusts’ district manager, Mohammed Shahid said;

“We have been working with the Bradford Lions club for a year now (since 2013) and both organisations are focused on tackling this problem head on. It is just not acceptable that families are going without hot water and heating in their homes in order to provide a meal for their children. As a community it is our duty to help those that so desprately need our help.”

So, who are the Bradford Lions?

Bradford Lions Club is an organisation that originated back in 1917, by a 38-year-old business leader from Chicago, USA, called Melvin Jones. Mr Jones told members of his local business club that they should focus, not only on business issues, but address the betterment of their communities and the world. Mr Jones’ business associates agreed. Within three years, Lions club became an international organisation. Since then the organisation has earned high marks for both integrity and transparency. The organisation is very well-run and has a steady vision, a clear mission and a long history of helping many local communities. The new Bradford Lions club was formed and chatered in Bradford on the 1st of June 2013. The club has been working alongside Save the Mothers Trust since then to ensure the needs of those less fortunate in the community, are met.

Charter President Lion, Amin Dada, who recently moved to Bradford from London commented;

“I am pleased that our our Club, Bradford Central Lions Club and Save the Mothers Trust [SMT]  have joined forces in bringing forth a ‘Food Bank’, this will help those living within our city that are less fortunate than ourselves. Our research has shown that there no food banks in the BD7 area and by having one this will help all those living within this area. In the long term, this will help the local community going through the difficult period. We are also planning to set up a soup kitchen in the near future where we will be able to serve hot food especially in the months of winter.”

Save the Mothers Trust urges the local community to get involved in this project, whether it is done by donating food or by fundraising for food. All donations can be made to the SMT complex on Beckside Lane Bradford. Our office hours are Monday – Friday 10am til 6pm

How you can help!

Agencies are requested to complete the referral form and email it to us by Wednesday afternoon in order for us to prepare the parcel for collection on Thursday.

LIONS CLUB – Food Bank Referral Form (Revised)