A food bank in Ramsey is celebrating a successful first year after handing out more than 200 parcels to impoverished people.

A food bank in Ramsey is celebrating a successful first year after handing out more than 200 parcels to impoverished people.

Ramsey Food Bank – based at St Thomas a Becket Church - work to help those in the community who have difficulties due to low income or a sudden crisis such as benefit delay, redundancy or an unexpected bill.

The group comprises around 12 keen volunteers who have helped the project to grow since it begun in September 2012.

They have since joined together with the Ramsey Community Car Scheme - who are set to help them access harder to reach locations - and are about to become members of the Trussell Trust.

Through membership of the national charity, they will be given access to wider experience and expertise.

Gita Bond, coordinator of Ramsey Food Bank said: “Many members of our community are overwhelmed with the generosity of the food parcels as well as the emotional support they have received from the team.

“There has been a huge upward trend in the need for Food Banks reflected in national media throughout the country. At Ramsey Food Bank we have seen for ourselves the need for food parcels with increasing benefit changes and cuts, people in crisis covering the whole spectrum of circumstances, and we know something must be done. To this end we are shortly joining in partnership with The Trussell Trust to make sure that we can make a difference to those in need in and around Ramsey.”

INFORMATION: The Food Bank is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am–1pm and Wednesday afternoons from 2pm–4pm. Donations can be made at the church.