A community food hub has thrown open its doors in Keswick to help out those who are struggling to make ends meet due to the cost of living crisis.
It has been set up in the former Citizens Advice Bureau offices next to the town’s library and will mean that those in need can pop along and get two bags full of food for a voluntary minimum donation of £2. Food will be purchased with monetary donations made at the hub.
It is open every Wednesday from 10 to 1pm.
“We had a very successful first session,” said Jean Murray, who has helped set up the hub. “Lots of people came along. A few people were a bit anxious to start with but we did our best to make them feel welcome.”
Eighteen families were supported at the first session and those behind the scheme believe this number will increase as word gets round the town.
“They came from all walks of life and all were local to the CA12 area,” said committee member Clare Horsburgh. “Last week was probably the worst week of the month for people who get paid. Most of the people we are supporting are working and they just needed a top up.
“All are welcome and we will support anybody. We are not interested in their back story.”
She added: “We have had some generous sponsors that have supported us in getting off the ground and we are very grateful. We will soon have collection boxes in a number of premises in our town as donation drop off points.”
The initial impetus to set up a food hub in Keswick came from Laura Gaskell who at Christmas created a food collection point at her home at Netherfield.
The kind-hearted mum-of-three, who is in need of a kidney transplant, was undergoing her three weekly sessions of dialysis when she read about the struggles people are facing because of the cost-of-living crisis.
She handed out 30 decorated hampers to families which also contained selection boxes, sweets, biscuits as well as essentials.
“I was very surprised at the number of people who needed support,” said Laura, who works as a waitress at Woodstones Pizza and Flame Grill in Keswick.
“I always thought that there might have been a need and when I looked into it I saw that Keswick did not have anything like that (food bank) so it spurred me on.”
