Serving Those Facing Food Insecurity and Energy Crisis
Welcome to the St Ives Food Bank’s page on the EHC website! Founded by Rev. Christopher Wallis, the Food Bank is dedicated to providing meal supplies to those experiencing food insecurity. It has been helping individuals and families since 2012.
Starting with just four families on their roster, the Food Bank’s clientele soon ballooned. In May, 2024, after 8 years in Carbis Bay, they moved into the Edward Hain Centre and became our first full-time occupants. This brought them closer to their clients in St. Ives. In the past 10 months, the number of meals they provide has ballooned again. They are now up to an incredible 2,750 per week – and counting.
Local Need
Contrary to what one might think from St. Ives’s picture-postcard image and buzzing tourist industry, many in the town struggle with food poverty. Some are isolated and housebound. The Food Bank are a lifeline for them.
In addition to supplying food, Chris and his team also have a limited fund to help Food Bank clients with energy costs. As he says, there’s not much use supplying people with fresh food if they aren’t able to cook it!
The service the Food Bank provides is invaluable to our community, especially as demand grows. We are proud to have them based at the Centre.
Community Meals
As strategic partners, our two charities are also developing various joint activities. We’ve already run a few pilots of free, hot community meals. Chris and the Food Bank team supply and cook the food, the Centre supplies the space – and EHC staff and volunteers do the washing up!
The community meals, which are on a Monday, are open to all. You can can find the latest schedule on the Food Bank’s Facebook page, HERE.
Together, we are also brainstorming ways to make the meals more accessible for those unable to drive, as well as spicing up the shared time with games and other activities. So please check back soon for updates. We hope you’ll join us for some community warmth and fun!
PLEASE NOTE: at present (May 2025) community meals are on hold as the EHC seeks funding to upgrade our kitchens’ cooking capacity.
Donate
The Food Bank is entirely volunteer run. As well is being its founder, Chris is the Food Bank’s project co-ordinator. He is also a trustee, along with Dr. Keith Judkins and Roger Green. All three are also volunteers.
If you’d like to donate to the Food Bank, please see their website for how to do that. Any amount is always welcome and much appreciated.
The St. Ives Foodbank would also like to thank their generous grant funders:
