Council donates £20,000 worth of supplies to food banks in Wakefield district

The local authority has spent £20,000 on replenishing stocks, with most food banks in the area under severe pressure from the coronavirus crisis.

Tinned fish, pasta, tea, cereals, toilet roll and fruit and veg are the among the items donated.

The council says it will continue to assess each food bank's needs during the pandemic.

It follows the truce between the Wakefield Council's Labour leader Denise Jeffery and Conservative opposition leader Nadeem Ahmed earlier this month.

Both said they were putting aside their political differences to prioritise help for people in the district, with a special focus on food banks.

Councillor Maureen Cummings, who heads the district's food aid network, said: "The food banks in our district do incredible work week after week, year after year to make a tangible difference to the lives of so many families.

"We are pleased to be able to help them so they can continue their much needed work."

The council is also appealing for volunteers who are fit and able to offer any amount of time during the crisis.

People are asked to view current opportunities and register their interest at volunteerwakefield.org or search #WakefieldCares on social media.

Anyone worried about themselves or someone else, who does not have an existing support network of friends, family or neighbours can call the council's dedicated phone line 0345 8 506 506 between 9am – 5pm, Monday to Friday. Choose option 3 to make a request for support and help will be arranged.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

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