A DARLINGTON foodbank received a visit from Durham Police's acting Crime and Commissioner in a bid to provide extra support to those in hardship.

Acting Police Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, Steve White, dropped into Kings Church foodbank in Darlington and donated some much-needed food to support those that find themselves in hardship or crisis.

The Church foodbank has been running for 8 years and every year it is in more demand and every year brings new challenges.

In recent years, The Church community have found a growing need for foodbanks and soup kitchens across the Darlington area.

Phil Hillsdon is the lead Elder at the Kings Church and showed Mr White around the vast building.

He was able to see first-hand the work of the furniture donation department, volunteers rotating stocks of food to ensure they are all used within the use by dates, people making up food parcels and sorting toiletries whilst others run of the café.

Mr White said: “It has been heart-warming to get an insight into the good work carried out by the volunteers at Kings Church, delivering this much needed service.

"At these difficult times it is great to see the support they give - not just providing food, but also emotional and social support to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities."

Caroline Todd, Kings Church Foodbank Manager added: “We just couldn’t deliver this vital service without the generosity of the people of Darlington.

"We are grateful for the donation from the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner, it is much needed."

The food bank is open from Tuesday to Friday weekly for referrals and open to the public on a Wednesday and Friday. Other days are spent collecting donations from local supermarkets sorting out produce.

In 2019 the foodbank gave out around 6,500 food parcels, which equates to approximately 90,000 meals. The church works with other churches and foodbanks in the area to ensure that nothing is wasted.