A VISIT from BBC Radio Devon's Matt Woodley provided Okehampton Foodbank with a welcome boost last week.

Matt came to the foodbank's weekly session last Friday morning to make a generous donation of two shopping trollies of food, kindly given by the Waitrose Okehampton store.

The donation comes just in time for what is expected to be a busy Christmas period. The average number of food parcels given out by the foodbank was around ten during the last few months, but that number doubled during November, sparking an appeal for more donations.

Rev Barry Walton, who helps run the foodbank, said: 'If you look at it in terms of the year, the community's support has been brilliant. Inevitably, as we come out of the media spotlight, response tails off. But still, the support is great.

'Yesterday I had three cheques that totalled £730. It's incredible. Because the support we get is so varied, from different people and places, trying to look ahead and plan, well forget it.

'What we want to do is restock our supplies as much as possible to help out those who need it.

'People get totally the wrong impression. They think people are coming in just to get handouts, and that sort of thing. People find it very hard to receive. People don't understand that side of things.

'It's one thing to say it's changed. In February and March, we were dealing with people made redundant from Polestar and the other factory closures. More and more, we're dealing with people who have part-time work, or on benefits. Some are on both.

'More and more, we're helping people who are simply struggling to make ends meet.'

The donation from Waitrose was part of an appeal by the Good Morning Devon show to promote the foodbank and remind people of their good work.

As well as the donation from Waitrose, Matt delivered food collected from the BBC news team and the Good Morning Devon team. BBC Radio Devon listeners also responded, bringing food directly to the foodbank session at Okehampton Baptist Church.

Matt said he was delighted that the appeal could help in a crucial period for the foodbank.

He said: 'We started the appeal on air on November 24, and listeners have already come into this session and donated goods, which is great.

'We've also collected food from Tavistock Pannier Market, and Waitrose have been very generous by offering to donate a trolley full of food.

'It's a difficult time for lots of people in the area, so it's important to get people thinking about the foodbank again.'

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.

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.

Visit the Baptist Church on a Friday between 10am and noon, or call 0800 978 8563.