Food for thought

More and more people are turning to foodbanks because they are struggling to put meals on the table. The Trussell Trust, working with churches and communities, already has a network of 270 foodbanks across the country and its aim is for every town to have one.

In the face of rising food and fuel bills, the charity expects to feed more than 200,000 people in 2012-13.

It expects the number of foodbanks to continue to rise until 2015.

A foodbank based at Barnbygate Methodist Church, Newark, will launch in February and should be up and running fully by Easter.

It will distribute parcels of enough nutritionally balanced food to last three days.

Food for the scheme, run by volunteers, will be donated, but running costs are estimated at around £20,000.

That’s where Advertiser readers have been asked to help.

A small monthly donation can make a big difference to the lives of people needing help, often because of circumstances beyond their control such as redundancy or illness.

Foodbanks rely on the support of their local communities.

The executive chairman of the Trussell Trust, Mr Chris Mould, says: “The foodbank franchise enables local people to do something positive about a problem so often hidden from general view.”

If you’re in a position to make a regular contribution, this new initiative certainly offers food for thought.