RINGWOOD Foodbank has celebrated its first birthday.

The facility opened its base in the Wesley Centre in Christchurch Road in July 2013 to give emergency food help and support to people in crisis in the town and surrounding areas.

Since then, more than 500 people – just short of 200 of whom are children – have been helped.

As reported, in June this year, the foodbank opened a new distribution centre at the United Reformed Church in Manor Road, Verwood, to better serve that area.

Both distribution centres are open each Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 11.30am and 1.30pm.

The Ringwood Foodbank is affiliated to the Trussell Trust, which operates over 400 foodbanks nationwide.

In the year ending March 2014, more than 900,000 adults and children in Great Britain and Northern Ireland received emergency food aid from Trussell Trust Foodbanks.

Like all other foodbanks, Ringwood and Verwood rely completely on donations, both of food and funds, as well as on a dedicated team of volunteers.

For details, or to volunteer your services at either centre, call 01425 600134 or visit ringwood.foodbank.org.uk.