Brampton’s new food bank is expanding, thanks to support from the local community and The Cumberland.
It already has 16 volunteers and has received a welcome boost from The Cumberland’s Brampton branch, which has funded a large fridge to store fresh food.
Staff at the branch are also planning to volunteer at the foodbank and it is hoped other local businesses will join them in supporting the project which is already feeding dozens of families.
Around 40 days’ worth of food were given to food bank users in one day last week.
Barry Ridley, manager of the Cumberland’s branches in Brampton, Longtown, Haltwhistle and Gretna, visited the project with his colleague Rebecca Burney to see how work is progressing with establishing the food bank.
He said: “It is sad to think that people in our community can’t afford to buy food for their family, but some people are really struggling.
“When I spoke to the people here I was only too happy to help and find the funds to buy this fridge which will extend the range of products the food bank can store.
“The Cumberland is all about Kinder Banking and this is an example of that right here in Brampton.”
Cumberland staff can all spend a day a year volunteering for local good causes and the Brampton team are planning to use their days to help the food bank, he added.
Foodbank manager Mike Kane said the project was in its early days, but was already getting lots of support.
He said: “Most days when we come to the food bank there will be a donation of food and other groups in the town have been collecting too.
“We have got a group of trustees established and have connected to most of the referral agencies. The challenge now is to get sufficient funds to make the food bank sustainable so we are looking at sources of funding and ways for supporters to contribute money to help us grow.
“Support from The Cumberland to buy this fridge is fantastic and hopefully other businesses will follow their example.”
Volunteer Debra Thompson has been helping to pack up bags with groceries which can also include pet food and toiletries.
She said: “Obviously there is a big need for this in the community and I hope we can reach out to people in the more rural areas too.”
People using the foodbank are being referred to the service by agencies such as Citizens Advice, social services and the Department for Work and Pensions.
They receive a bag of groceries that should support them for three days. Food is either collected at the community centre or delivered to them.
The food bank now occupies a sizeable area in the community centre which used to be part of the nursery.
