Stock running low at Shropshire food banks

The food banks have handed out tonnes of food as hard-pressed people across the county continue to turn to the outlets for help.

Premier League footballer Elliott Bennett, who plays for Norwich City and is a former pupil of Thomas Telford School, visited the foodbank in Telford on Thursday to drop off some food and support the local effort.

Volunteers manning outlets in the county say they are dealing with more people every month and that donations seem to dry up later in the month.

Jake Bennett, co-ordinator for Telford Crisis Network which helps run Telford food bank, said: "In April we fed 350 people – I haven't done the figures for May yet, but it is more.

"We have a steady demand, but the reason we sometimes struggle towards the end of the month is that the bulk of our corporate donations come in during the first two weeks of the month. "We had a bit of a rush on Thursday because of the media reports raised awareness. That meant we had more people coming in."

The food bank was also treated to a surprise visit Elliott Bennett, who stopped by to donate some food. Jake Bennett – who is not related to the player – added: "It's great that people care enough to come in.

"Elliott dropped in to donate some food and he was completely humble about it. He said he had grew up around here and wanted to give something back to the community."

Peter Baker, from Shrewsbury, said they had seen a doubling in clients since September, feeding 50 families more than half a tonne of food each week.

"We do sometimes run out of food but we are fortunate that this is a church-run scheme and we can go out and buy supplies," he said.

At Oswestry and Borders food bank, Phil Simpson said: "The food bank has distributed nearly seven tons of food so far in 2013 – nearly two tonnes in April alone.

"However, the food that has come in so far this year is a ton less than we have given out and if the demand remains this high or increases our stocks of certain items will start running short."

The Oswestry group last month opened a branch in Ellesmere to cope with demand.

Volunteers with the Ludlow and South Shropshire food parcel organisation said they were having no problems with supplies, thanks to the generosity of residents and churches.

But Ruth Davies, who co-ordinates the scheme, said: "Last year we gave out 108 parcels and after only five months, we have already handed out 110." Demand has really rocketed and the demand is mostly from the 24 to 45 age group.

The food bank in Market Drayton has been running for six months but has already handed out 3.6 tonnes of food totalling more than £6,000.Plans are still in the pipeline for new food banks to be set up in Whitchurch.