Ormskirk foodbank set to be launched this summer

Mar 14 2013 by Tom Duffy, Ormskirk Advertiser

ORGANISERS hope that Ormskirk’s first foodbank will be up and running within months.

The steering group behind the project held its first meeting on February 12, and they now hope to launch the foodbank in June this year.

The steering group consists of members from Churches Together in Ormskirk, including Christ Church, and non-church members.

Its objective is to set up a foodbank in partnership with the Trussell Trust, a Christian organisation that has helped establish over 300 foodbanks across the country.

The charity was initially established to help Bulgaria’s poor in 1997. In 2004 the UK foodbank network was launched.

The meeting in Ormskirk also established a number of objectives including; sourcing the food, finding a food warehouse and locating a distribution centre and recruiting volunteers.

The project came to life after workers at Ormskirk job centre told the church that a number of families in the town were struggling financially.

Pete Chalk, from Christ Church, said: “Ormskirk Christian Fellowship has kindly offered us the use of the Boiler Room in Burscough Street use as a distribution centre.

“We are now co-ordinating all the volunteers required to run the foodbank.

“Over 50 people have offered their help so far but more are welcome to help with fundraising, administration, public relations, communications and prayer.

“We are liaising with the agencies who distribute the vouchers to those in need of food;

“The current priorities are to get the foodbank formally setup with a constitution and bank account and to locate an area to store the food. A town centre location on a ground floor, about the size of a large double garage and with car access is ideal.”

Contact Peter at ormskirkfoodbank@btinternet.com