IT’S not quite feeding the 5,000, but a Kinson church is doing all it can to help those on the breadline.

Every month up to 135 hungry people turn up for a free roast dinner at St Andrew’s Church – so organisers are setting up a foodbank.

Sandy Williams, a church warden, says the way take up has exploded from 30 guests at the first meal in October 2009 proves there’s a “real need” for the bank as many in the community can’t afford to eat.

“At the moment we’re building momentum for the project,” she said.

“We know from our own experience plus what we see in the papers and from visiting Poole food bank how much demand has increased.

“For many years we’ve collected for the Northbourne family centre and always said – how can we do more? They’ve always said: ‘More food!’

“We know from those working out there that this is a real need and we want to do more than what we’re doing.”

The idea is to set up the bank at the church centre, in Millhams Road, and volunteers are needed to help set it up.

“We will be looking for donations in the near future,” Sandy added.

“Doctors, head teachers and social workers will be given vouchers to hand out to anyone living on low incomes, or whose benefits haven’t kicked in or are struggling.

“Then they can come in and pick up a food pack to keep them going.”

The community meals, held on the first Saturday each month, attract families, young single people and the elderly.

“Attendance increased quite rapidly,” Sandy said.

“It’s amazing how the food is always more than enough. It’s really not churchgoers at all, in fact we’re trying to get more to come along to meet everybody.

“One of our first visions was that it’s too expensive for families these days to go out and be waited on. We serve them so they can sit and actually enjoy a hot meal without worrying ‘How much is this going to cost? We can’t afford to eat after this’.”

To volunteer, call 01202 570010.