BRAINTREE foodbank has given out more than 41 tonnes of food to needy families in the two years since it opened.
The volunteer-run charity that handed out its first food parcels in April 2012, has fed over 5,000 people since, a third of whom have been children.
This figure represents around three per cent of the population of the Braintree district, with over 3,300 people fed in the last year alone.
"It's remarkable how the food bank has expanded since it was first set up by Christ Church," says Alan Pinnell, director.
"We now have nearly 50 agencies working in partnership with us to help people through a crisis.
"There are now four locations across Braintree, Witham and Halstead where people in crisis can receive an emergency three-day supply of food. The statistics help us find out why people need emergency food and who they were referred by.
"All of this would not be possible without our 250 volunteers and the generosity of the public in donating food. We are glad that we can meet these needs but we hope that one day foodbanks and other organisations like this will no longer be required."
The foodbank provides a three-day emergency supply of meals in exchange for vouchers issued by agencies, such as social services, First Stop, Home-Start, and the women's refuge.
Over 29 tonnes were distributed between March 2013 to April 2014, more than double the previous year's total of 12 tonnes.
The foodbank's second anniversary on April 20 was marked with a volunteers' morning at Christ Church, Braintree, and a short service of thanksgiving led by the Reverend Peter Goodhall.
Braintree MP Brooks Newmark paid a visit to the foodbank's Christ Church distribution centre last Friday.
He said: "I think the work the foodbank volunteers do is excellent and they are meeting a need in the community.
"I think it's important charities do play their role. It is not for the state to provide charitable work, that's why they get the tax breaks, they are doing work for the community. Most people come to the food bank as a one-off, usually when circumstances change and they are between benefit payments with a two or three-week gap.
"This is something I will be raising with Ian Duncan-Smith to see how we can stop people falling through the cracks."
"But I think the overall picture for Braintree is promising. Unemployment is dropping and as more people find work and get more hours in part-time work less people will need this service."
There are four distribution centres in the Braintree Area Foodbank network, the Witham Foodbank is at the Methodist Church in Guithavon Street and Braintree Area Foodbank is at St Andrew's Church in Halstead and the Baptist Church and Christ Church in Braintree.
