Opticians thank Exmouth people for food donations

THE generous people of Exmouth have been praised for their donations to a food collection for local people in need.

Staff from the town’s Specsavers store organised the collection in aid of the Exmouth Food Bank, in response to the cost-of-living crisis that is affecting so many families.

Many customers and passers-by joined the store’s staff in contributing to the collection, with more than 30 bagfuls of longlife goods being donated.

Kim Swinbourne, dispensing optician at Specsavers Exmouth, says: ‘We’re so grateful to the people of Exmouth for supporting our charitable food collection.

‘Times are hard for a lot of people at the moment. There are many in need and many who can’t afford to donate the few things they have, and yet we have had beans, soups, pasta, biscuits and tinned veg donated.

‘It’s amazing. We’re so grateful. All these goods will go to local people who might otherwise have had to go hungry.’

Exmouth Food Bank was set up 10 years ago by a group of local churches. Its aim is to provide free emergency food help to individuals and families in crisis.

Shirley Newcombe, the Vice-Chair of Exmouth Food Bank, says: ‘We are delighted to receive such a huge donation of food from the staff and customers of Exmouth Specsavers.

‘Demand for the Food Bank has significantly risen during the past few months and this contribution will ensure that we can continue to support those in need during these financially difficult and uncertain times.

‘We would encourage anyone struggling to feed themselves or their families to contact us, and they can be assured that they will receive a warm welcome.’

Currently, Exmouth Food Bank provides food to support more than 125 people per week. Last year it supplied 2,177 food parcels, feeding 4,405 people.

Recent levels of demand for food parcels are more than double the annual averages for 2014-2020. This rise has in part been caused by the effects of COVID-19, but increasingly by the rising cost of food, fuel and utility bills.

Further information about Exmouth Food Bank is available online at https://exmouthfoodbank.org.uk or by calling 07787 758511.