THERE is plenty of food for thought in Okehampton this week as an important project is gearing up to launch this autumn. On Monday, April 28, Okehampton Town Council heard that mayor-elect Kay Bickley will be supporting the proposal to set up a 'food bank' in the town as her mayor's charity appeal. The Okehampton Food Bank will free emergency food to single people and families in crisis and is described as a project that can 'save and change lives'. Darren Pike, from Okehampton Baptist Church, who will be running the project, said: 'As hard as it might be to imagine, there are people in Okehampton who are going hungry today. It is a hidden plight and it is possible that your neighbours might be amongst them. 'Take a young single mum who wants to get off benefits and find work. Once she finds work her benefits stop but she doesn't get paid until the end of the month. How does she buy food for her family? 'We propose to set up a food bank in Okehampton which can deal with the immediate need to feed those in greatest need by issuing a three-day supply of food.' Andrew Morgan, who is helping to run the project, added: 'Hunger is a common problem and the food bank will provide immediate help to people in crisis and put food on the table. 'It is a hidden problem as food can run out overnight. After the loss of the Job Centre, it is now even more important to have a project that can offer crisis aid in Okehampton.' The food bank will operate on a voucher basis with vouchers being handed out to people who are in a 'proven crisis' situation. Vouchers are then redeemed for food parcels. Said Cllr Bickley: 'There is a real need out there for this. This is rooted in work I'm doing on a personal level and offers a new solution to a problem in Okehampton. 'If you look at the statistics for Okehampton's population, around 45% of people are skirting the poverty line, particularly in rural areas and the hamlets. 'We're hoping to be up and running by October and the mayor's charity appeal will give this the high profile it deserves.' In the South West, the food bank project is already running in Bude and will also be launching in Exeter and Plymouth later this year. In Bude, which shares a similar demographic to Okehampton, more than 140 food parcels were given out last year. The food bank receives food via donations and builds up a warehouse store of food products that can then be donated to the people who need them most. As well as providing immediate need, the project will also be able to provide long term solutions by signposting individuals to appropriate agencies who will be able to offer a more permanent solution. Special fundraising events will be taking place between now and October to help raise money to fund the initial start-up costs of the project. The first planned event will take place at Upcott House on Wednesday, May 14 when a vintage car rally will stop by for cream teas, with all proceeds going towards the food bank. Anyone who would like to support the food bank or help in anyway should contact Darren Pike on 07815 751803 or Andrew Morgan on 07974 498890. The food bank projects are a proven model that form part of a national network being run by the Trussell Trust, a Christian charity committed to fighting poverty with sustainable community projects.
