South Normanton PCSO lends a hand at local food bank

A local PCSO has been helping out and linking in with volunteers at a South Normanton food bank.

PCSO Marion Jeffery of the South Normanton and Pinxton Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team called in to speak and offer a helping hand to the volunteers who run the service.

The South Normanton Area Foodbank is part of the Trussell Trust network providing emergency food for people in crisis and has distribution centres operating from St Michael’s Church and the Junction 28 Church.

Set up by the local ‘Churches Together’, the food bank offers food supplies to people in crisis for three days, in exchange for a voucher which can be issued by care professionals, social service workers, job centres and police.

PCSO Jeffery said: “The food bank offers a great service to people who are in need of emergency food. Residents are also invited to meet volunteers over a cup of tea, where they can chat and signpost people to agencies who can help in the longer-term problem.

“We are pleased to be able to work alongside the food bank and will be dropping in again in the future.”

Non-perishable and in date food is donated from schools, churches, businesses and individuals as well as ‘Supermarket Collections’, where volunteers ask shoppers to buy an extra item for local people in crisis.

The volunteers also sort and pack up the supplies ready for collection.

If you are interested in becoming a food bank volunteer or would like to donate food, please contact Louise Gutmann on 01773 810410 or Rev. Stephen Potter on 01773 811273.

To contact the South Normanton and Pinxton Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team call 101, the non emergency number for Derbyshire police, or email [email protected].