A MEETING is being held in Verwood to promote a foodbank distribution centre to help those in urgent need.

Ringwood Foodbank, which currently has a centre at Hangersley, already covers the Verwood area, but moves are now being made to establish a bigger base in the town.

The foodbank, which is run by the Trussell Trust in conjunction with churches, has shops in Verwood and Ferndown that hold emergency boxes, but they cannot be tailored to particular situations or offer any personal support.

With that in mind, an open meeting is being held at Verwood United Reformed Church on Wednesday, February 26, at 2.30pm for those interested in helping to attend with no obligation. The aim is to be able to provide help tailored to the needs of families and individuals in the immediate Verwood area and also point them in the direction of other organisations that can offer further support.

Peter Trebilco, project manager, said: “We opened in mid-July and we have a warehouse at Hangersley and a distribution centre in Ringwood.

“Just holding boxes is not the full story – by having a distribution centre people can come along with a voucher and they’re given options and can choose from extra bits of food.

“They can also be signposted to other agencies, for example debt management.

“On the one hand we don’t want anybody coming in, but on the other hand it’s great that you’re able to help them.

“What we’re looking at, as part of the Trussell Trust network, is providing food to people in crisis; it’s not long-term food.

“The biggest thing is getting volunteers and getting lots of volunteers, it’s surprising how many you need.”

For further information contact verwoodfoodbank@yahoo.co.uk