Sheffield doctor raises over £800 for “vital” foodbank at risk of closure without support
A Sheffield doctor has raised over £800 for a “vital” foodbank at risk of closure without support.
Dr Alexander Burnett, aged 35, who works across northern Sheffield and Weston Park, took part in the Sheffield Half Marathon yesterday to raise money for Burngreave Foodbank.
“It’s a great charity that does important work. Hopefully we can get to a point where we don’t need them as much, but at the moment we do,” he said.
Alex, who is also a councillor for Penistone East, chose this smaller charity, which is only open from 1pm to 3pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, pointing out that they do not get as many donations as larger charities.
The foodbank is located in the Rock Christian Centre on Spital Hill, Burngreave, which is local to where Alex works as a consultant, where he has seen people in the community in “really hard and tough” times.
Rachel Snow, the Manager of Burngreave Food Bank, says the main groups of people helped are asylum seekers, people in debt and those with benefit problems.
“People are just struggling generally, the cost of living has had an impact on a lot of people. The whole disability cuts at the moment is going to impact people a lot, so we will see what happens,” she said.
Burngreave Foodbank has another centre in Darnall, and across both locations they give out 100 food parcels a week to single people and families.
Mrs Snow said the foodbank has been quieter recently but at one point the foodbank was giving out 60 food parcels a session, which didn’t give volunteers enough time to sit down and talk to people properly which is what they like to do.
Despite the drop in the number of visits of late, the charity is still having to buy 60 per cent of the supplies handed out, which includes food, toiletries, toilet rolls, sanitary products, nappies and pet food.
“Pre-covid, most of the food we were giving out were coming in from donations, we just had to top it up occasionally. But now we're having to supply a lot in,” said Mrs Snow.
“This is why financial donations are a massive part of our support and a really big help for us. So what Alex is doing is just incredible, and I hope more people get inspired.”
Initially, Alex, set a target of £500, but has surpassed that and hopes to reach £1000.
His main donors are his family and friends and also his work colleagues, who Alex says have seen the same things that he has and know how important the foodbank is.
Despite having never run a half marathon before, Alex completed the race in 1:50:27 and described the atmosphere as amazing, with lots of people cheering him on.
He hopes that the money he has raised will help the foodbank continue the “vital work they’re doing.”
“A big thank you to our supporters and donors,” said Mrs Snow. “If people weren’t supporting us, we’d probably be closed by next week. I always say that we are the conduit, we get the thanks, but we couldn't do it without the supporters.”
To donate to help the foodbank, visit Alex’s online appeal here: