Last updated at 16:48, Thursday, 10 January 2013

A ‘SATELLITE’ foodbank is set to open in Millom – as soon as volunteers are trained.

RESTORING HOPE AND DIGNITY: Foodbank organisers, from the left, Rev Rachel Williams, of Millom Methodist Church; Rev David Opie, of Millom Baptist Church; and Ann Mills, Barrow foodbank project manager

And organisers praised the community for its support after an ‘amazing’ response to their appeal.

Dozens of willing volunteers attended Tuesday night’s meeting on the foodbank’s formation in Millom.

It was revealed that the foodbank will run in conjunction with the centre already established in Barrow, operating out of Millom Baptist Church on a Tuesday and Millom Methodist Church on a Friday.

Ann Mills, project manager of Barrow foodbank, delivered a talk to the Millom volunteers.

She said: “People have a perception that the people using foodbank services are the dregs of society.

“But once the centre is set up you’ll see the sort of people whose benefits have been delayed, meaning they have no money for weeks. Or the biggest thing is people on low incomes.

“We have all kinds of people coming in for all kinds of reasons. Our main purpose is to restore hope and dignity to people.”

She said the Barrow foodbank had dealt with 402 people in December alone.

Speaking at the meeting, Pastor Fred Mckeown, of Millom Community Church, said there should be no excuse for people going hungry now as the church groups in Millom were working together to ensure there are free refreshment events taking place every day in the town.

Rachel Williams, of Millom Methodist Church, was spurred into action after a meeting on child poverty in Millom revealed that members of a family had gone six days without eating.

She was delighted with the public support shown for the scheme.

She said: “There has been an amazing response. It’s fantastic to see so many people from different churches, as well as people not even connected with a church, getting involved.

“It’s nice that so many people want to help their community.”

Millom Community Church is offering a free breakfast buffet on a Thursday, which started today, at Millom Network Centre.

First published at 16:34, Thursday, 10 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk