Food Bank topped up with Food Festival donations

ATTRACTING  thousands of visitors to the Thame Food Festival this year also enabled a group of local service organisations to raise just under £2,400 for local charities.
A proportion of the money raised will be going to the Thame Food Bank, operated by the Sharing Life Trust.  This year the Thame Food Bank has seen a rapid rise in the number of families needing assistance in putting food on the table.

Radio Presenter Ken Bruce with Lotte Duncan at Thame Food Festival 2013. Image courtesy of Alexandra Jane – Click image to visit her web blog

Much preparation was needed before traders and crowds poured in to Thame to enjoy the good fare on offer at this year’s Thame Food Festival.

“Organising parking is a critical element to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and people to the event,” said Roger Blackburn, President of The Lions Club in Thame. A number of local organisations pulled together to deliver this logistical feat, with the food festival organisers, the Lions and Rotary clubs, the Thame Boys Football Team and Cornerstone Baptist Church were all involved in setting up and manning car parks, including the Park and Ride. 

Rob Ellis, who is a member of both the Lions Club and Cornerstone Baptist Church, was enthusiastic about the way the organisations worked together. “Once again we were able to work together to achieve something that alone would be difficult. As a result a considerable amount of money was raised for charities through volunteer work and the tombola.”

A special presentation evening is being planned to take place at Thame Football Club on November 12, to distribute cheques to the Thame Food Bank and several other local charities. Radio presenter, Ken Bruce, who has associations with one of the charities, Thomley Activity Centre, will be there too.

The organisations to be presented with donations include Thomley Activity Centre, Thame and District Lions Club, Thame Rotary Club, Thame Football Partnership and Cornerstone Baptist Church.