LOW income, delayed wages and sickness are still causing an increase in people turning to the foodbank in Tavistock, it was announced last week.

The foodbank in Tavistock continues to provide crucial aid to those in need and since January last year, it has seen a small growth which organisers say 'shows no signs of decline'.

From January to April 2014 a total of 100 vouchers were handed out to families in need and through the foodbank, parcels fed 200 people. But from January to April this year, the total vouchers issued has been 157 and parcels have fed 219.

Area co-ordinator for Tavistock Foodbank Val O'Neill said that families in crisis are still finding themselves in need of a little extra help and that the foodbank is 'extremely grateful that it continues to be supported by the generosity of the local community'.

'We currently hold sufficient supplies to continue to provide this valuable service, with donations still coming in regularly through individuals, churches and schools.

'That said, as the weekly numbers continue to increase, we find ourselves short of small bags of sugar, small jars of coffee, UHT milk, fruit juice and pasta sauces.'

This year the town's foodbank has seen eight to eleven parcels a week being distributed, whereas before it was three to four a week, with the the odd emergency voucher, which offer fresh produce.

Val added: 'We see more of the families that only have £10 left and have to decide whether they put it in the car, in the meter for electric or to buy food — those are the kinds of people we see now.'

The foodbank is now several years old and has given out tonnes of food to the people in the town from its base at the United Reformed Church in Russell Street.

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. From then, they take a voucher to the URC on a Friday and have a cup of tea, a chat and get some advice while their parcel is prepared.

Each parcel contains food for the family as well as recipe cards with ideas on how to use the food in the parcel.

The hard work and commitment shown by volunteers of the Tavistock Foodbank has recently been praised and commended by the Trussell Trust, the national foodbank which was founded approximately nine years ago.

The trust recognised the hard work that is undertaken and how the foodbank offers nutritional parcels and vouchers.

'The trust is pleased with how well we are doing,' said Val.

'The Tavistock Foodbank was praised on the work that is undertaken and the support that we receive from our local community — this is a real credit to the volunteers that support us week on week.'

Tavistock Foodbank is open for one day at the URC on Fridays from 10am to 2pm, where people can drop off food items or collect 'parcels'.

Food items can also be dropped off at the PAYLess Discount Store.