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Geoff and Pat Hallett of Bracknell Foodbank are looking for a bigger place to keep all the food
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Bracknell Foodbank looking for new home

By Laura Herbert
October 30, 2012

A CHARITY which supplies food parcels to needy people is desperately seeking a larger home after record amounts of food were donated during harvest festival.

Bracknell Foodbank has delivered emergency food supplies to thousands of people across the town since it launched three years ago.

But bosses are appealing for someone to offer the charity storage space.

Pat Hallett, Foodbank manager, said: “Harvest festival was huge this year and we are so grateful for that. It’s marvellous as there are more schools engaged with us and more churches. The donations are literally pouring in and that’s good because of the benefit changes happening in April and we are prepared and ready to meet the demand.

“We need the storage space so we can sort the parcels more easily as at the moment we can get the food into the space but we can’t fit all the people to help out.”

She added: “We have had to hire extra storage in Wokingham but we are a charity so are looking for someone to donate space.

“We need a large amount of space that is dry, accessible and air controlled. It would be wonderful to have something permanent that we could call our own.”

The service, based at Kerith Community Church, in Church Road, was set up in September 2009 as part of a UK food bank network and has seen the number of people in need of help soar.

The charity has seen rising numbers of people in need of help, particularly large families.

Pat said: “They are in crisis because food is so expensive, benefits aren’t going up and salaries aren’t going up.”

If you know of a suitable premises for Bracknell Foodbank to store food contact Kerith Community Church on (01344) 862 699.

For further information about the food bank visit www.kerith.co.uk/foodbank Any food donations can be brought to the Kerith Community Church.

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Bravo to the Foodbank for all it's hardwork and generosity of spirit - and all those who contribute to it.

The UK is the 7th most affluent country in the world. We shouldn't be in a position in the 21st century where citizens need a foodbank to keep them and their families from starving.

How about BFC, BRP, and our part-time MP step up, get their sleeves rolled up, and demand that the acres of spare office space littering Bracknell are utilised for important volunteer services like Foodbank?

As I, and others, have mentioned before - regeneration isn't just retail opportunities. It's about renewal of the community spirit and a sustainable civic pride.