A FOODBANK is expanding in a bid to offer more support to some of Darlington’s most vulnerable people.

For years, the Salvation Army has operated an emergency foodbank from premises at Tom Raine Court.

The service has acted as a life line for many, with about 50 people a week queuing on a Friday evening for food to last them throughout the weekend.

Those at the helm – led by Majors Shirley and Marc McKenzie – hope a move to more spacious surroundings will help them to provide clients with a relaxed atmosphere where they can enjoy refreshments and access advice and support.

From January, the foodbank will be based at the Salvation Army Citadel on Thompson Street East and will have extended opening hours, from 5.30pm until 7pm.

Major Shirley McKenzie said that the move would allow them to spend more time engaging with those who come through their doors, many of whom are in a desperate situation.

She said: “Tom Raine Court has been great but we have just one room – at the Citadel, we have a kitchen, toilets, other rooms and will be able to offer teas and coffees and the chance to have a chat in friendly surroundings.

“We just want to make the whole experience more approachable for anyone who needs to come along.

“We have a range of people who come to us and they’re in all kinds of situations, with no money – some are homeless, some are roofless, staying on people’s sofas and we have a real mix of ages, from older people to those with children to look after.

“Universal Credit is becoming a big issue in the area and on the whole, people are just struggling.

“One day, they just realise that what they’re doing to make ends meet is not working.

“We’ll now be able to have longer to sit and chat, to sign post them to other services and look at other ways of getting them help and support.”

The last foodbank at Tom Raine Court will be on Friday, December 21 and it will reopen at the Citadel on Friday, January 4.