GENEROUS donations saw 300 Easter eggs handed out to families by a town’s foodbank.

Barrow Foodbank thanked the public for their donations, saying they brought “hope and a treat” to families needing help over the Easter period.

Ann Mills, Barrow Foodbank project manager, praised the public for their kindness and support.

She said: “The community is fantastic in supporting our work to help local people facing hunger.

“We know that without your help this Easter there would have been families who would have struggled to put food on the table, and children across Barrow who wouldn’t have received an Easter egg because money is just too tight for their family.

“Easter is a time of hope and people tell us the foodbank gives them hope – hope people care and hope that things will soon start to look up.”

Last week, the foodbank received a number of donations, including from brothers Matt and Greg Parkes, who arrived at the foodbank’s base, at Abbey Road Baptist Church, with armfuls of Easter eggs as a treat for those who benefit.

The winner of the Evening Mail Easter egg giveaway also donated his prize to the foodbank. Will Mallinson, 23, from Barrow, was selected at random as the winner of a luxury Belgian chocolate Easter egg with salted caramel truffles, but requested that the treat be given to the foodbank.

Mrs Mills thanked the public for their donations, saying: “Thank you so much to everyone who donated Easter eggs to the foodbank.

“Your generous donations mean that we were able to give an Easter egg to children who needed our help in the run-up to Easter this year, and to some of their parents too.

“We have seen some happy, smiling children this week and very grateful parents thanks to your kindness.”

The foodbank provides three days of emergency food and support to local people. It has been operating since 2012, and last year gave 2,959 food parcels to local children – a total of 39.5 per cent of their parcels.

Mrs Mills said: “Week in, week out at the foodbank we’re seeing families from across Barrow who have hit crisis. “We’re here not only to give emergency food, but also to sit and chat over a cup of tea, bringing some light when people hit rock bottom.”

The foodbank also has centres in Ulverston and Millom and is operated by the Trussell Trust, which runs a network of 425 foodbanks in the UK.