THE foodbank in Okehampton is appealing for more donations and volunteers to help them through a busy festive period into the New Year.

Every Friday morning, volunteers at Okehampton Baptist Church give out food parcels to people struggling to put food on the table.

Over the past few months, the average number of parcels being given out by the foodbank has steadily increased to around 20 per week. The charity has been spending around £200 from its own reserves each week to top up the food stores.

To continue their operations, the foodbank continues to rely on the support of people from the community.

The Rev Barry Walton, who helps to run the foodbank, said: 'It seems one of the main changes we are seeing is that we seem to be helping more families. Of the last 20 parcels handed out, that was to feed 36 adults and 13 children. The number of families needing our help has been creeping up.

'Though Christmas puts a strain on families, the main reason why people are turning to us for help is a delay in benefits.

'I hear lots of discussion in the media about how much people on benefits get, and whether they are deserving, all these sort of discussions. You never hear about how long people have to wait when there is a change in circumstances before new benefits are received.

'I had one lady in here who had been told she would have to wait 14 weeks before she received her benefits, another told eleven weeks. This happens quite often. It leaves people vulnerable.'

This recurring issue has contributed to the Okehampton Foodbank team's decision to leave the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks.

Trussell Trust foodbanks are designed to provide a few weeks of help for those finding themselves out of work or in dire need of support.

Following the mass redundancies at Polestar and Robert Wisemans Dairies in 2011, the team at Okehampton Foodbank discovered they needed more flexibility to support those in need.

Mr Walton said: 'After the Polestar closure, and seeing how long some of these delays in benefits are, there is no way we can restrict how long we are supporting people.

'We could not leave them where they were at without support. Most people we help need longer term help than a few short weeks.

'The Trussell Trust foodbanks work on a voucher scheme, with vouchers given out to those in need by authorities and organisations. We are delighted with the support we get from local organisations to support the voucher scheme, like Room 13, Okehampton Children's Centre and the CAB.

'But 90% of the people we help come to us direct, and so we need the freedom and flexibility to help them directly. So we have decided to leave the Trussell Trust umbrella. We will continue to operate and help people in the same way we always have.'

As well as appealing for food and monetary donations, the charity is looking for additional volunteers — in particular, the foodbank needs them to man their emergency phone line, and a new chairman to help run the charity.

Prospective volunteers can find out more by dropping into the baptist church from 10am to noon on a Friday, or calling the Rev Barry Walton on 01837 659733.

Gifts of food can be delivered to Okehampton Baptist Church on a Friday between 10am and noon, or to OK Leisure on Fore Street during shop opening hours.

Mr Walton and all at Okehampton Foodbank expressed their gratitude to everyone who has donated food or money to the organisation.

Foodstuffs ideal for donation include tinned goods, potatoes, fruit, vegetables, corned beef, pasta and pasta sauce. Gifts of money, which will pay for much needed food, can be sent to Okehampton Baptist Church c/o the Rev BL Walton, 18 Limehayes Road, Okehampton, EX20 1NX. Cheques should be made payable to 'Okehampton Baptist Church — Foodbank'.

Okehampton Foodbank is there to help anyone in genuine need.

If you need the foodbank's help, visit the Baptist Church on a Friday between 10am and noon, or call the emergency freephone on 0800 978 8563.