An open door to everyone!

I’m ex-military. I used to have it all. When I came here I had nothing. I did give up. When I met you all, you said, ‘Come, we’re going to help you.’ I’ve been at the lowest point of my life, and you never turned me away. You called a local GP surgery, and you made sure I had my prescription for my asthma. I remember I came in with no food, and went home with so much food! I am now registered with a GP; I have a dentist, because you never turned me away. You helped me get help for the alcohol. I tell you, my drinking slowed by 80% because of your help.

I am in recovery from alcohol and gambling addiction. I got to the point about a year and a half ago where I lost everything, I had been declared bankrupt, my life was a mess and I needed to re-build from the bottom up. Since being in recovery, the food bank and my case worker has helped me with this tremendously. Not only did they provide me with much needed food when I was at my most desperate, they also provided me with some structure, a way of giving back. Thanks to the food bank I volunteer at a local food kitchen on a weekly basis. I'm so grateful to everyone to have been given a second chance.

So grateful for the support I received from the food bank in citygate. I and my husband were down to our last penny, I walked into the food bank desperate and hungry but the ongoing support I got from the support workers was life saving. I was hopeless financially and had attempted to take my life a few days before, not only did I get support until my husband and I were able to get a job, I also got emotional support from the support workers who worked with other agencies towards my recovery. Thank you for saving lives and feeding the hungry.

After finding myself homeless 4 months ago, not only did I feel isolated, I felt lost and hungry. I was directed to the Citygate Church for help with food parcels as my benefits were on hold while they sorted out my supported housing benefit. The staff at Citygate made the journey of gaining vital provisions dignified and gave me hope and direction and actually listened to my plights and gave me a will to succeed. I have now received notice that my benefits are sorted and I now longer require the food banks help, but I will never forget the help they gave me and how people I never knew, treated me as one of their own.