THE latest recipient of The Mail’s Bouquet of the Week is one of Barrow’s most beloved community groups.

Barrow Foodbank helps thousands of people across the area every year, offering vital support to those in need.

According to the latest figures Barrow’s foodbank handed out more than 8,000 emergency food parcels to people in the last year.

And community figures have lined up to praise the work of the volunteers at the centre.

The group are based at Abbey Road Baptist Church.

Last year’s Barrow mayor Bill McEwan said: “The work all the volunteers is absolutely fantastic.

“It’s such a vital service they provide and everyone knows how important what they do is.

“It’s a shame that foodbanks exist in this country.

“We’ve had a terrible time with austerity over the past 10 years and people have been forced to turn to foodbanks, but the volunteers in Barrow have always provided for people.

“It goes without saying - they are absolutely fantastic.”

Helen Wall, the deputy mayor of Barrow, also praised the foodbank.

She said: “The volunteers who work there perform an incredibly vital role for people in Barrow.

“They do an absolutely fantastic job for the town.

“Their work is absolutely crucial.

“There are always people who grumble about things in Barrow but the foodbank is something we should celebrate.

“The volunteers there know what the foodbank users are going through and know that they only ask for help because they really need it.

“People depend on them.

“It’s a pretty hard job but the volunteers always deliver.”

The foodbank, run by the Trussell Trust, is appealing for items such as pasta sauce, tinned tuna, UHT milk and fruit juice.

It has encouraged people to get food delivered directly to them from supermarket websites during the foodbank’s opening hours of Monday to Thursday 11am to 1pm and 11am to 3pm on Friday

If you would like to nominate a special person or group for The Mail’s Bouquet of the Week then please get in touch by emailing dan.tayor@newquest.co.uk or call 01229 840175.

The flowers are provided by Floral and Hardy.