In April 2023 Thanet Food Link celebrated 10 years of serving the people of Thanet. The vision of the late Paul Trumble, Thanet Food Link began in 2013 as a joint venture by a few churches to provide a food parcels to those in need in Thanet during a time of crisis. The aim was to “link” those in the area who had food with those who did not. It was expected to be needed for a few months. Little did the founders and early volunteers realise that a global pandemic and a cost of living crisis would soon be upon us.

Ten years on the organisation is busier than ever. From distributing up to 300 parcels of food a month in the first few years, we are currently (May 23) supplying around 1,000 parcels a month which is similar to the amounts being distributed during the first Covid 19 lockdown when almost all shops were closed. Over 10 years we calculate that some 40,000 food parcels have been given out. to those in need.

In that time a distribution point ran for a couple of years in Newington Ramsgate as well as in Cliftonville. In 2020 we were joined by Kate Grant and her team of volunteers who established a distribution point in St Peters Baptist Church, St Peters. This has meant that families across Thanet have benefited from the service.

The anniversary was celebrated on Saturday 29th April at St Paul’s Church with tea and a sumptuous selection of cakes. Gill Trumble (Paul’s wife) and Co-founder Debbie Ellisdon shared some memories and thanked our supporters before Gill cut the spectacular celebration cake. Special thank you gifts were presented to Debbie & husband Pat who will be moving to Canterbury soon and retiring as TFL Board members (see separate post).

We are immensely grateful to all our donors – those who give food and funds and those who volunteer their time on the Board, collecting, sorting, packing and distributing food. Although we now have 2 paid centre coordinators, without the generosity of our donors and volunteers we could not do what we do. Our beneficiaries are so grateful.

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