AN appeal for help has this week been issued from the group working to set up a foodbank in the Tavistock area.

A meeting was held in the town last autumn to gauge the need for such a facility and to see how many people would be interested in running the charity.

Subsequent enquiries made by a working group have demonstrated that there is a real need for such an organisation, which would offer food vouchers to people in need in Tavistock and surrounding villages, through third party organisations such as Citizens Advice Bureaux, GP surgeries or Tavistock Children's Centre.

The vouchers will be exchanged for donated food packs would be distributed from the United Reformed Church in Tavistock's Russell Street on Friday mornings.

But storage of donations is proving an issue.

A spokesman for the proposed Tavistock Foodbank said: 'Our biggest need now is a store room for the food donated by the public, awaiting distribution.

'The criteria are simple — big enough to hold a supply of tinned food to last several months, at least 20ft by 20ft, within easy reach of the distribution centre, accessible by vans and cars, dry, cool and suitable for storing tins.'

The premises would also need to be lockable, and 'pass muster' with health and safety requirements.

The spokesman said a number of volunteers had already come forward, willing to take on roles within the operation of the foodbank — but more would be needed.

'We would be delighted to welcome more help, specially as the snowball starts rolling.

'We expect the demand to increase next spring, as the economy worsens and benefits are reduced.'

The volunteers are likely to be working in five small teams. One will cover public relations, building relationships with the public, charities and supermarkets in order to raise funds and appeal for donations, through a website, leaflets and meetings.

One team would cover the warehouse, once it is obtained, another would look after risk assessment, a team would cover the carriage of donations between the warehouse and distribution centre and a final group would hand out the food parcels on a weekly basis.

The working group is holding a meeting on Tuesday, February 28 in the parish church centre to move the project forward.

It will be an open meeting, chaired by David Palmer, chairman of Tavistock Area Christians Together, for anyone interested in getting involved in Tavistock Foodbank and all are very welcome to attend.

The meeting will begin at 7.30pm — for more information, call Dick Eberlie on 01822 618974 or email [email protected]">[email protected]