Countdown to opening of new food bank in Whitchurch
Shropshire's latest food bank will open in 10 days time in a bid to help financially under-pressure families access basic essentials.
The new food bank in Whitchurch will be operational from September 27 and will provide basic meals for struggling people in the town and surrounding villages.
Organisers have issued a call for more volunteers to step forward to make sure the new food bank can open on time, and final training sessions will take place on Thursday at Bargates Hall in the town.
The food bank will be run by officials at Whitchurch Churches Together and will become the seventh food bank in the county.
People behind the scheme say the need for food banks has arisen because of the rises in the cost of food and fuel, static incomes, high unemployment and changes to benefits.
Elsewhere in Shropshire, volunteers in Telford, Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Ludlow, Craven Arms and Market Drayton have given out tonnes of food such as tinned meat,fish and fruit to people in need.
They also give out small packets of pasta and pasta sauce, custard, evaporated milk, rice pudding, cereals and small packets of tea which are donated to the food bank by residents.
Volunteers at the food bank in Whitchurch will be able to choose from a range of tasks, including checking and sorting food, preparing refreshments, and meeting and greeting clients.
Volunteer Alan Scutt said: "We hope to be live from September 27.
"We have got a substantial team of volunteers and our aim is to have a rota and share out when people work so they don't have to turn up every week."
There will be a choice of two training sessions for would-be volunteers to take part in – from 2pm to 5pm or from 7pm to 10pm – and training will be delivered by a representative from the Trussell Trust.
The Trussell Trust is launching food banks across the UK, working in partnership with churches and communities.
The Trussell Trust has launched more 250 food banks and its aim is for every town to have one.
In 2011/12 food banks fed 128,687 people nationwide, 100 per cent more than the previous year.
Anyone interested in volunteering to help run the food bank in Whitchurch should e-mail acscutt@btinternet.com or leave a message on the food bank phone (01948) 663943.
