A FOOD charity in Poole has helped to feed more than 3,000 people throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

Poole Waste Not Want Not (PWNWN) provides food packages to low income families from its town centre base.

During the first lockdown the charity started offering delivery services to supply those in the community who were self-isolating.

Thanks to a £10,000 donation from the Talbot Village Trust's Covid-19 Support Fund, it has been able to extend its services to even more people in need during the past months.

Elaine Lawford, trustee at PWNWN, said: "Over the past six months we have been able to help over 3,000 individuals in the local community, many of which included young children.

"Our increased collections and the ability to store more food means we have a guaranteed supply of frozen food until March.

“Without this donation from Talbot Village Trust, we wouldn’t have been able to help and reach this volume of people across the county. Vulnerable families who really need our help, would have been left to fend for themselves."

The charity has been able to hire an additional van to continue operating its delivery service.

In addition, PWNWN has been able to rent a storage facility to store long-life goods, which means it can now offer a wider variety of food to its clients.

Vulnerable individuals in the community are referred to PWNWN and provided with access to affordable food. When compared to usual supermarket prices, the charity offers savings of up to 75 per cent for low income families.

Since the health crisis began, the charity has seen an increase in demand for its services.

Russell Lucas-Rowe, trustee of Talbot Village Trust, said: "Charities such as Poole Waste Not Want Not are becoming even more essential to the local community.

"Elaine and her team are doing a great job supporting vulnerable families in Poole, and should be proud of their hard work and determination.”

Talbot Village Trust’s £1million Covid-19 Support Fund was launched to help organisations that were adversely affected by the pandemic. Applications for the fund have now closed, but the trust is now accepting grant applications for its usual fund before the trustees meet in spring 2021.

Visit talbotvillagetrust.org for more information.