A food bank has been set up in Luton to try to mitigate the impact of planned welfare cuts on the town’s most needy people.
The Luton Foodbank is an independent community benefit society with charitable status, working with a network of more than 50 local organisations.
Items are now being collected for the foodbank, which will become operational in the New Year.
Board member Abdul Ghafoor said: “With one in five Britons borrowing money for groceries, foodbanks are becoming a common response to the economic challenges caused by increasing food and fuel costs, unemployment and the recessionary climate.
“Luton is one of the most deprived towns in the East of England with almost one in four children living in poverty. Food bank recipients are not only the homeless but also low-income working families who hit crisis, people who have been made redundant or people experiencing benefits delays.”
The foodbank has set up ‘Filling Fridays’ for people to donate.
It is encouraging people to collect long-life food at home or at work, which can then be dropped off at a number of points around the town or a collection arranged by calling 07796 603760.
The drop-off points include Bury Park Community Centre, Lamp in Napier Road, Raynham Way Community Centre, Hockwell Ring Community Centre and Lush at The Mall.
For more information visit www.lutonfoodbank.org.uk