Published: August 8, 2012
New 'food bank' sevice launches in Highbridge to help people in crisis

A new service has been launched in Highbridge to feed local people suffering severe economic hardship.

The Highbridge Area Foodbank is a new local charity, supported by The Trussell Trust, that is run by local residents from a number of churches across the Burnham-On-Sea area.

The Foodbank provides emergency food donated by shoppers at Highbridge's Asda store to people who facing real crisis.

Andrew Jackson, Chairman of Highbridge Area Foodbank, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: "We have been overwhelmed by the public's support for this initiative and for the way people across our community have donated food and money to help get the project off the ground."

"We are delighted to receive this help from Asda and for all the support they have given us so far. The current economic climate means more and more people are struggling to put food on the table."

"It's not just people on benefits who are struggling - the rising cost of living, coupled with wage freezes, redundancies and reduced hours are having a real impact on local people and we have encountered people who are genuinely struggling to feed themselves and their families."

The Foodbank's aim to help people through short-term crisis by providing emergency food parcels. Foodbanks also provide support by signposting to other agencies to help combat the long term problem.

Food is given to people in crisis identified by front-line care professionals from the Citizens Advice Bureau, Sedgemoor District Council, Children's Centre and Somerset Floating Support Services.

John McGregor, store manager at Asda Highbridge, added: "Asda is committed to helping the local community and we are happy to have helped Highbridge Area Foodbank with the start-up of this very important local charity."

Pictured: Foodbank Trustees Rev Andrew Jackson, Rev Sharon Crossman, Wayne Sadlier, Julie Jackson-Hales and Nathan (Front)