@emilyhstott

An appeal to raise money for a delivery van for the Deal Area Emergency Foodbank has been successful and the new vehicle is now on the road.

The van will ensure that warehouse and delivery volunteers no longer need to use their own cars and more produce can be delivered in one go.

It will also allow the foodbank to reach rural areas and help those in difficulty who are unable to travel to the four urban food outlet centres.

Chairman Alan Thompson said: “Our appeal to raise funds to buy a van for the foodbank has been incredibly successful and we collected our vehicle on Friday.

“We had some amazing donations, there were some personal donations from volunteers active in foodbank and from others not involved but who had heard of the need for a van.

“We had donations from local groups and organisations such as Lionesses with the Tortoise and Hare event and Swell Singers from Shepherdswell who donated the proceeds of their September concert. Thanks also to Beech Grove Community in Nonington for its donation.

“Councillors Mike Eddy, Eileen Rowbotham and Leyland Ridings also donated from the county council members’ grants.

“We received help and service from Phil Day, of Millards Insurance, too. He made a difficult task of sourcing insurance cover for a small charity with several drivers in to a safe and easy process and competitive prices.”

Deal Area Emergency Foodbank accepts donations of non-perishable food which it can then distribute to people in need in the community.

Another popular idea is supermarket collections when shoppers are asked to buy one or two extra items on their shopping list to provide for local people in crisis.

For more information or to donate to the foodbank visit the website at www.dealarea.foodbank.org.uk or call 01304 728428.