THREE choirs have joined forces to raise money for food parcels for people in need.

Hambleton District Council’s choir Hambleton in Harmony, the Northallerton Inspiration Choir and Churches Together choir sang carols to customers at Sainsburys in Northallerton this week to collect cash for the Hambleton Foodshare scheme.

The scheme supplies parcels to people in temporary financial need. Since the food bank opened in Northallerton approximately 18 months ago it has given out more than 1,500 emergency parcels.

Anyone wishing to donate food to the scheme can leave parcels at one of the current collection points in Northallerton: the Civic Centre; New Life Baptist Church; Age UK shop; the Methodist church; All Saints Church; Zion Chapel or the Hambleton Furniture store.

Basic provisions such as cereal, coffee, tea, jam, pasta sauce, instant and tinned meals and desserts, soup, rice, toilet rolls, deodorant, shower gel and shampoo are needed – as well as Christmas treats such as mince pies, chocolate and sweets.

Foodshare is open every Monday from 4pm until 6pm at the Zion Church in Northallerton. Customers must present a voucher issued by an agency to claim the three day food parcel. Agencies include Broadacres, Hambleton District Council, CAB, North Yorkshire County Council, Probation service, Age UK, Thirsk Clock and local churches and debt advice groups.

For further information about the scheme contact the food share co-ordinator, Margaret Brice, on 07514 244158 or; hambletonfoodshare@yahoo.co.uk