AN emergency food service has been launched in the Hambleton area to help those who are struggling to feed themselves or their families.

The aim is to provide a three-day emergency food parcel to people in temporary financial crisis who otherwise would have to go hungry.

It is designed to help people in various circumstances – which could be because they have lost their job, become incapacitated or facing a delay in benefit payments. The introduction of benefit changes by the Government this month is also expected to have an impact on many people.

The Foodshare initiative has been established by Broadacres Housing Association in a community partnership with local churches and voluntary groups, as well as Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire County Council.

Led by volunteers, the scheme is operating from Zion United Reformed Church Hall, off Northallerton High Street, every Monday between 4pm and 7pm.

The director of care services at Broadacres, Paul Lightfoot said: “There is growing evidence that, even in relatively affluent North Yorkshire, people are having to go hungry.

“Worryingly, this is not something that is confined to those who you would typically expect to be in that situation, such as the homeless or unemployed.”

He added: “The purpose of Foodshare is to provide emergency food supplies to tide people over and then to signpost them to other agencies to try to alleviate the issues they face.”

To receive emergency food help customers must be able to demonstrate their need primarily by being referred through an agency or by self-referral.

Those agencies include Citizens Advice Bureau, Broadacres Housing Association, Hambleton District Council, GP surgeries and North Yorkshire County Council.

The Reverend Michael Webster, from Northallerton Methodist Church, said: “The need to provide food for those in our community, who, faced with a sudden crisis, do not have the money to feed themselves, has prompted a generous response.”

He added: “Such a crisis is particularly tragic for families.

“The customers we have already received demonstrate that there is a need, even in an apparently prosperous town such as Northallerton. Sadly this need is expected to be with us for the foreseeable future and help for FoodShare will always be welcome.”