Pastor’s plea for food to feed needy families

A CHURCH leader has asked for help to meet the rising demand for a food bank used by needy families.

Pastor Ian Gooch, of the Full Life Church at Thongsbridge, near Holmfirth, put out an appeal for supplies due to stocks running low.

The centre, at the bottom of Miry Lane, provides essential food for around 150 families a week in the Holme and Colne valleys – and demand has been rising.

Mr Gooch posted a photo on the food bank’s Facebook page which showed empty shelves at the premises.

He said: “We are desperately short of supplies of everything. The shelves should be full of tinned goods and cereal. Pasta is low and milk nonexistent – all and any donations welcome.”

Several generous people answered the appeal – but more supplies are still needed, said Mr Gooch.

The centre can cope with perishable goods as it has fridges and freezers and visitors who want to drop off food are welcomed.

Mr Gooch said volunteer drivers and packers were also needed, along with brand new Christmas presents for children. He estimated that around 15% of food bank supplies were donated by members of the public, with the rest coming from local shops and supermarkets including Co-op, Tesco, Aldi and Lidl. Some stores have collection points.

“The last 12 months we have distributed around £150,000 worth of food. Demand has been rising but is settled at the moment.”

He added: “We are not a big church but we have a big heart. We need more volunteers – drivers for deliveries and stackers and packers.

“We are hand to mouth and we don’t save any money. Some people say they what we do is incredible and they don’t know how we do it.”

Large areas inside the church premises have been turned over to food bank operations, with shelves everywhere and rooms taken up with food storage and delivery boxes. Mr Gooch said many people needed help from food banks but didn’t like to talk about it.

He said: “People don’t want to ask for help. 98% of our food parcels are delivered, but one or two come in and collect.”

The food bank can be contacted by email: foodbank@fulllifechurch. co.uk – or call 01484 684545.