KHT directors get hands on at Foodbank charity

Housing directors have been helping pack food parcels that will feed families struggling to make ends meet.

Directors from Knowsley Housing Trust (KHT), including Chief Executive Bob Taylor, volunteered to help out at Knowsley Foodbank, a charity that provides food parcels for households on low incomes.

Executive Director of Business Services Jason Ridley, Ian Thomson, Executive Director of Asset Management, Social Responsibility Team Leader Kerry Cullen and Affordable Warmth Assistant Emma O’Hara also joined Barry Cooper and Peter Mitchell from the Foodbank for the afternoon.

Bob Taylor said: “The volunteers do an amazing job and I’m pleased we could help out, if only in this small way.

“Unfortunately it is a service that is vital to some to get through difficult times. In some ways I wish it wasn’t needed, but based on the numbers the Foodbank is helping it clearly is.

“The response of local people in donating food has been extraordinary and we want to encourage their continued support.”

The directors were packing food that had been collected at a recent event at a local Asda store.

Volunteers, including KHT staff, collected over half a tonne of food in 25 boxes, by asking shoppers to buy an extra item from a Foodbank shopping list.

KHT is one of the partners that helped to set up Knowsley Foodbank. Since opening in September 2011 it has helped to feed 414 people, of which 165 were KHT tenants.

The number of people using the Foodbank has been increasing dramatically and at Christmas they fed 90 people in one week.

The charity has 10 to 30 regular volunteers who sort the food and give it out to people who visit the centre, but they are always looking for more.

Barry Cooper from Knowsley Foodbank said: “The demand we have seen shows just how many people are struggling to feed their families

“However the Foodbank is only providing a sticking plaster – we need to tackle the real reasons why people need to use a Foodbank centre.”

There are two outlets in Kirkby – Centre 63 and St Mark’s Church – but the charity would like to set up 10 Foodbanks across Knowsley.

For further information about Knowsley Foodbank please phone 0151 546 0470 or email info@knowsley.foodbank.org.uk.

 Pictured are :- Barry Cooper (left) and Bob Taylor.