Welshpool Town Council launches bid to save food bank
After 13 years of distributing more than 121,000 meals, Rob and Denise Field announced that for several reasons they were no longer able to run the food bank from the town’s Kingswood Church, with the service ending abruptly on August 31.
And, at last night’s Operations & Development Committee meeting, it was explained by the food bank charity, Trussell, that there were almost three tonnes of food left over at the site that needed to be moved.
“It was very sad to learn this news because it has provided a tremendous service to people in need,” said Cllr Richard Church in response.
“There are two points to consider here. The short-term point of what to do with the leftover food and also what do we do for the longer term?
“We need to ensure that the food already in storage there stays in Welshpool and we don’t see it sent to Newtown, so can the Town Council can help with the storage of food which tinned and packaged?
“I don’t think we have the capacity to distribute it as it goes to people with vouchers. But let’s store it and see if other bodies are willing to take it on for the longer-term future.
“We need to ensure that people really in need continue to have a food bank service in the town. Let’s see what we can do or otherwise it will go off to Newtown like other surplus food in the town.”
The Town Mayor, Cllr Bill Rowell, declared that he would like to host a meeting of likeminded parties to see if there was an organisation willing to take it on, and Cllr Phil Owen suggested that an empty shop in town could be used for temporary storage after hearing that the Town Council didn’t have any space available.
Councillors backed the call for a meeting and a report will be submitted on its outcome at the next meeting in October.
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