Andrew Mitchell MP has visited the new Hope Food project at Ark Community Church ahead of its official launch.

Andrew met Debbie Middleton the Lead at Hope Food (Formally Hope for Sutton) to discuss the project ahead of their official launch on Thursday.

Hope Foods will continue the work that Hope for Sutton undertook in the community during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic. As the lockdown restrictions ease the new scheme will operate instead as  two pop up food banks with one based at Ark Community Church and one in Erdington. In the future the team hope to expand to offer coffee mornings and ‘cook alongs’ for those that have used their services.

The dedicated team of volunteers are working with local charities such as Our Place to provide additional assistance, mentoring and mental health guidance to those that have fallen on hard times or are in need of extra support.

Volunteers have secured food and donations from local supermarkets in Mere Green and the new ‘Cook’ store. Debbie is also looking for donations from the public and is asking local people to drop off any donations or extra supplies that have a long shelf life.

Commenting Andrew Mitchell MP said:

“I would like to thank Debbie and her team of volunteers for all their hard work setting up the new Hope Food initiative. The Hope for Sutton project provided important support for many local people during the pandemic and it is wonderful to see our community come together to keep the project going to help those facing hard times in the Royal Town.”

Commenting Debbie Middleton said:

“It was great that Andrew could and visit us ahead of our launch on Thursday the 22nd of July in Mere Green. We hope and aim to continue the good work that Hope for Sutton did so well during the Covid Crisis, focusing and ensuring that residents in Erdington and Sutton Coldfield were supported through a difficult time. That is why we are not just proving food to families but working with Our Place to ensure that families and residents are offered a deeper and wide ranging amount of support. We are a voluntary organisation so any support from residents with ambient food donations would be greatly supported – you can donate food at Hope Food Base, Upper Room, Wilmcote Drive, Royal Sutton Coldfield, B75 5ED”.

Photo: Andrew with Hope Food volunteers. Debbie is fourth from the left.