£50k fund to feed families in crisis

The money will provide resources for food banks and other forms of food provision, and will run until March 2016.

Food banks can apply for up to £1,500 to buy supplies and equipment or use the money for running costs.

It comes as more working families are struggling to put food on their tables.

There are currently 13 food banks across the district, 10 run by churches and community groups and three which operate in partnership with the Trussell Trust.

Pontefract Food Bank, based at Central Methodist Church, provides meals for around 45 people every week.

Frank Sheard, food bank manager, said: “The money will be a big help. In the past 12 months we have helped more than a 1,000 people.

“Our aim is to feed people in crisis and help them get out of that crisis.”

The food bank joined national charity the Trussell Trust, which works with food banks across the country.

Through that link the food bank is able to collect donations from supermarkets.

Wakefield Council’s service director communities Antony Sadler said: “We have helped develop a network between the district’s food banks so that we can all work as a collective. It is essential that we share ideas and pull together to ensure that the valuable lifeline offered by the food banks reaches the people who need to the most.

“The funding which was first made available last year and runs until March 2016 is there to help the food banks with set up and running costs and to buy stock.”

Pontefract Food Bank is open every Tuesday from 11.30am to 1pm or every Thursday from noon to 1.30pm.