THE planned new Dunstable Foodbank, which aims to stop people going hungry when hit by a sudden short-term cash crisis, will be up and running soon.
September 8 is the launch date for the scheme.
Now the team would be grateful for sponsorship help, especially over obtaining a van for collections.
So far, about 18 churches are involved in the scheme, for Dunstable, Houghton Regis and nearby villages.
Non-churchgoers are also volunteering to lend a helping hand.
And the team now has the free use of a large warehouse in Leighton Buzzard.
At the moment, there are plans for three distribution centres in Dunstable and another in Toddington.
The foodbank is part of a rapidly-growing network run by the Trussell Trust charity – the Dunstable scheme is the 157th of its kind in the UK.
Families and individuals in short-term need will be able to obtain special vouchers from sources such as GPs, JobCentre Plus and social services.
Then they can visit a distribution point, to pick up enough food to cover three days in each of three weeks.
Volunteers will run the foodbank, and the food will be given away free.
When the scheme was announced, steering committee chairman Alan Sutton, pastor of Dunstable’s New Life Church, said: “It is surprising to some that there is a need for such a scheme in Dunstable.
“But the rapid spread of foodbanks across the country demonstrates how necessary they are. They are there for the benefit of those in sudden crisis – where it can sometimes be a case of paying a bill or eating.”
This week, he said: “We are almost ready to go, I am pleased to say. I have had a number of phone calls from members of the public who have picked up on the fact that we are planning to open in Dunstable and who are planning to offer their services.
“Personally, I feel very positive and excited by the response.”
Food will be provided by church members and other volunteers who will donate items on a foodbank shopping list. Volunteers will also be outside supermarkets on selected days.
They will make the list available to shoppers and ask them if they could buy one item for the foodbank.
> Can you help out with sponsorship, or could you help as a volunteer?
If so, just email info@dunstable.foodbank.org.uk or call 01582 534567 or 01582 661621.
To find out more, check out www.dunstable.foodbank.org.uk.