Flour becomes 'self-raiser' to help those on the breadline in Sheffield

Flour has been flying off the shelves as more and more people across Sheffield turn to baking during lockdown.
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Faced with the shortage resident Joanne Chapman, a volunteer in the S11 Mutual Aid Group, decided to buy flour from Heeley-based wholesalers, Hukin’s, and make it available to people living in the city.

She then started selling the flour safely from her home at cost price and asked people to donate to a food bank.

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Within the first week, it was clear there was a huge demand and a willingness from people to donate and by the third over £1,250 had been raised.

The Bread for Sheffield initiative is helping to raise money to aid those in need of food banks in the cityThe Bread for Sheffield initiative is helping to raise money to aid those in need of food banks in the city
The Bread for Sheffield initiative is helping to raise money to aid those in need of food banks in the city
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Joanne said her idea initially came from a need for bread flour but quickly turned into an opportunity to raise funds for those in need.

“I wasn’t expecting it to attract any more people than it had in the first week, but I’d greatly underestimated the need to bake,” Joanne added. “I had help from week two, but after packing and selling around 700kg in week three, I was very grateful when St Mary’s stepped in and took over”.

As demand grew even further, Sheffield Business Together became involved and St Mary’s Church and Community Centre decided to take on the initiative.

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Graham Duncan, director of St Mary's Centre, said: “I was so impressed and delighted with the opportunity. Joanne and Jane had done all the thinking, we just needed to pick it up and it’s going brilliantly.

“When the virus struck we quickly changed our operations to meet the new levels of food poverty in the city. Since March 30, we have sent out nearly 1,900 food parcels.

“The flour initiative gives us the possibility to generate funds to support not only our food parcels but also the wider work of food banks across Sheffield. It’s innovative and gives people in Sheffield an opportunity to come together to meet the challenges that will be with us for some time to come.”

Bread for Sheffield flour is available in 2.5kg packets at cost price.

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Customers are asked to include a donation payment with 50 per cent going to St Mary’s food delivery scheme, and the rest to support Sheffield food banks.

For more information visit www.breadforsheffield.org

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