Fifty-seven people have been helped by the Keswick Area Food Share scheme in its first four mornings of opening, the May meeting of the town council was told.
“You could say that is good or it’s appalling, depending on your approach to it,” said Cllr Jean Murray, one of those who helped set up the scheme in rooms previously occupied by the Citizens’ Advice Bureau next to the town’s library. “It has seen 57 customers coming for help and that includes one or two who have come back. We are finding that people are a bit more confident in coming back now.”
The scheme, which runs from 10am to 1pm on Wednesday, works much like a food bank except that anyone living locally and in need can benefit from the parcels of goods it provides, rather than needing to be referred to it by the social care team, as happens with a food bank. The food is free to anyone who needs it, though there is a voluntary contribution of £2 if recipients can afford it.
“All we ask people for is a postcode because it has been set up to serve the whole of the CA12 area and it’s also for us to see that we are reaching all of the CA12 area,” said Cllr Murray. She added that businesses in Keswick had been “incredibly supportive” and residents had been “fantastic”.
as well with some people coming in and giving monetary donations as well as food.
“It looks like it’s going to be a long term project,” she said.
