New charity bank to help families in crisis

Shoppers at a King's Lynn supermarket will be asked to add a tin or two to their trolley on Saturday to support a new charity providing emergency food aid for people in the area.

The town's first foodbank is due to open later this autumn and it will provide up to three days of non-perishable food supplies for those in need.

The national economic downturn has seen a rising number of families and individuals dealing with redundancy and low wages while prices continue to rise, so that finding money for the basics has become more difficult.

'These are uncertain times and it is very easy for people to find themselves in a difficult situation. Losing an income, having to cope with an unexpected increase in rent or mortgage, or simply trying to manage on the same wage packet while prices rise, means that some people will find that they do not have enough to provide nutritional food for their families,' said Kev Crane, foodbank project manager for Lynn.

The town's Churches Together is working to open a foodbank where people can collect basics and be sign-posted to other organisations which can help in times of difficulty.

The bank will be based in the Purfleet Trust building, St Ann's Fort (near the True's Yard Museum), North End. It will be open on Monday and Friday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm and will operate on a referrals basis.

Volunteers will man the bank but users must be referred from front line care professionals, including doctors and social workers, who provide vouchers which can be redeemed at the foodbank.

Shoppers at the town's Hardwick Tesco store will be asked to donate a tin or two between 10am and 4pm on Saturday.