POCKETS of desperate need in Tavistock and surrounding villages have sparked the creation of a foodbank in the town.?Organisers hope it will be up and running by Easter.

The steering group behind the project say in spite of the area's prosperous, middle class image, there are people facing real hardship.

Val O'Neill, the new co-ordinator of the foodbank project, said: 'I went along to a meeting not really thinking Tavistock needed a foodbank, but when I heard some of the figures, I was really quite shocked.

'If we had been open in December, we would have been able to give out roughly 36 to 40 foodboxes, which I think is quite phenomenal in Tavistock.

'From that moment I knew I wanted to do something to help. I wanted to give something back to the community because I love Tavistock, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.

'I really do think there is a need — it's not the easiest thing in the world if you are a mum to admit that you can't feed your kids.'

The steering group, thanks to the generosity of Tavistock Area Christians Together (TACT), have become members of the Trussell Trust, a charitable UK foodbank network.

Val said the group was very grateful to TACT for their financial help — being part of the trust gave invaluable back-up support in setting up the Tavistock Foodbank.

She said: 'They have been there, they've lived it, you are buying their experience essentially to help you comb out all the teething problems.'

Val said so far, she has had a very positive response in terms of volunteers offering their time, although more would be needed.

The steering group is set to decide tomorrow (Friday) on the location for its warehouse.

Val said: 'Once I know what we are doing regarding the warehouse, I can start allocating jobs to the volunteers — then we can say we are ready to start receiving food.

'Our size foodbank will need approximately 1.6 tons of food and we estimate we will need two collections a year.'

Val said the food boxes would be standardised, containing three days' worth of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food.

She said Morrisons had agreed a collection could take place at its Tavistock store. The Co-op is also offering support. On the day, volunteers will give shoppers a list of the items which make up a food box, and would ask them to contribute just one item, or more if they wished, from the list, which could be left with the volunteers when they have finished their shopping.

Foodbank clients can apply for foodbox vouchers from organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureau or Tavistock Children's Centre. They will be able to exchange the voucher for a foodbox at the foodbank, which will be held at the URC Church in Russell Streeet on Fridays.

Val said: 'What we really want to get across is that foodboxes are for real crisis moments, to help short-term, when for whatever reason, whether it's redundancy, illness, a sudden unexpected bill, people have no money at all to buy food.'

The town council's finance committee last week heard an update on the scheme from Cllr Dick Eberlie, who has been involved in setting up the facility: 'It's been wonderful the way volunteers have come forward, and demonstrates once more that Tavistock is a wonderful community.'

Cllr David Whitcomb said it was 'terrible' that such a need existed in Tavistock. He asked how many people the organisers of the foodbank believed to be in need in the area.

Cllr Eberlie said: 'The CAB tell us they would have issued 69 vouchers this winter, had the foodbank been in existence.

'There is some risk, you can never be certain an individual is telling the truth, but the stigma of relying on charity is a deterrent and we know of one or two young men who have resorted to sleeping in the park and going through bins

for food.'

Anyone who wishes to get involved with the new Tavistock Foodbank is urged to attend an open meeting on Tuesday, February 28 at 7.30pm in Tavistock Parish Church Centre — all welcome.

For more information, call Val O'Neill, on 07941 436149.