CREDITON Food Bank now has a blue food collection box at Morrisons supermarket in Mill Street positioned near the tills.

Crediton Foodbank Co-ordinator and Community Support Worker, Chris Parsons explained: “People in Crediton are really feeling the impact of Universal Credit; when a person has a change in their benefits or has to start claiming benefits for whatever reason, they have to wait for five weeks with no money coming in at all. 

“For someone without any savings this is devastating.”

This year, so far, the Foodbank has given out an average of 66 parcels per month feeding an average 94 adults and 45 children each month. 

This is 144 per cent up on the same period last year and last month this included eight new clients.  

Chris added: “Just this week a client spoke to me of how they have no money for electricity, they have no heating and often sit around a candle at night for warmth and light. “This is not the only story and it is shocking that this is happening in the UK in 2019.

“We greatly appreciate the food collection bin at the CreditonTesco Supermarket at Wellparks and all our community volunteers who collect food in various places, but unfortunately this is not meeting the demand we are presently experiencing and our shelves are getting very empty.

“Therefore, we are so pleased that Morrison’s have agreed to set up a food collection bin behind the tills at their Crediton Store and we want to thank Hazel Evely, the store’s community champion, and the store manager.

Hazel said: “We are very pleased to have a collection point for Crediton Food Bank and we will help to support it in any way we can.

“We hope that our customers will also support it and give generously.”

Chis concluded: “The food bins will be emptied and kept up to date weekly by Lee Bridger, one of our volunteers and will clearly show our current needs.

“We know the people of Crediton are very generous when they know there is a need and we look forward to having a well-provisioned foodbank again. 

“So next time you are in Morrison’s check-out the blue food bin behind the tills and pop something in it; it is so appreciated.”