THE?Coalition Government's changes to the benefit system are having an effect on demand for Tavistock Foodbank.

Area co-ordinator for the foodbank Val O'Neil said that in the week of the changes there were two people lined up and waiting at the door for the facility to open — the first time it had happened since it was set up.

In light of the changes, Val is keen to encourage people in need to come forward and use the foodbank.

'On average we feed one person a day. We give out about five or six parcels a week and although we have always done emergency parcels, we are now giving out two, maybe three emergency parcels a week because people need food and can't wait until Friday when the foodbank is open.

'My concern is that people who are in need are not coming forward. As I talk to people who come for food parcels, what I am finding is that it is taking up to six weeks for the government to resolve problems or make changes to people's benefits. We were only giving out up to three vouchers but now we are giving up to five.'

Val, who owns 'Val's Around a Pound' shop in the pannier market surround, said people come in to the shop telling her of their struggles and she was keen to emphasise that the foodbank is not just for those on benefits.

'I see a lot of people in the shop who say they're not able to feed their families — if you're struggling come and get some help. I don't want to see lots of paperwork, evidence, benefit forms etc, we do our own assessment but it is not means-tested.

'We've had people who have been bereaved and had their bank accounts frozen so have no cash available to them who have come in for a parcel.

'We give a lot of vouchers to people who are in work but fall through the benefits net, but not everyone who needs help is coming forward.

'There is such a wide range of people that we serve — you don't need to be on benefits to use the foodbank.'

Val recalled that on Christmas Eve they had heard that a family was in need but would not ask for help, so they made up an emergency parcel and dropped it off to the family to help them over the festive period.

The foodbank is now a year old and in that time it has given out 3.6-tonnes of food to people in the town from its base at the United Reformed Church in Russell Street, and only nine vouchers in that year to people aged over 65.

People in need of help from the foodbank are generally referred by their doctors or schools and are given vouchers from either the Citizens Advice Bureau or Tavistock Children's Centre. Then they take their voucher to the United Reformed Church on a Friday and can have a cup of tea, a chat and get some advice while their parcel is being made up. Each parcel contains food for the family as well as recipe cards with ideas on how to use the food.

'We don't give the food out in boxes, we give it in non-descript carrier bags so it looks as though the individual has just gone shopping.

'Crisis happens and people generally wait until they are really in need to come forward. I really want to stress to those people don't go round hungry, come and get some help. We just don't want to miss anybody.'

Three tonnes of food is currently stored. Val said the generosity of the community had been amazing, but volunteers to help for a couple of hours on Friday afternoons to help man the doors and make up food parcels are needed.

Anyone who would like to volunteer or who would like more information can contact the foodbank on 07941 436149.