Hard-hit residents need food donations to make ends meet (From Northwich Guardian)

Hard-hit residents need food donations to make ends meet

8:30am Thursday 21st March 2013 in News By Emma Rigby

A NUMBER of hard-hit Northwich residents are struggling to make ends meet, according to a town-centre charity.

The Northwich Corps of the Salvation Army, based on Tabley Street, has noticed an increase in demand for informal and immediate food parcels in the town, with people finding it hard to feed their families.

In a bid to help those who need it most, the charity is asking Northwich residents to put their excess food to good use and donate it to the Corps centre.

Appealing for food, Captain Imogen Stewart said: “We deal with different types of people.

“Firstly, the homeless, we give them something that can fill them up immediately and is accessible 24 hours.

“We tend to need food which can be simply cooked with hot water for these people – so for instance, pot noodles, instant pasta, and instant soup.

“Secondly, we deal with families. We tend to need set meals for a family, which can include pasta and a sauce, tinned food and little desserts.

“Thirdly, we deal with the elderly, where we often need ready meals that can be quickly and easily cooked.

“We are unable to take non-perishable or past sell-by date items because they’re unsuitable.”

As well as donating food, the Northwich Corps is also working with The Princes’ Trust to create a community garden on the abandoned scrubland behind the Tabley Street headquarters.

It also runs a cafe, which opens four days a week, as well as drop-in sessions for the homeless.

Anyone who would like to donate food can do so by calling Captain Imogen Thomas on 01606 330 572 or 01606 42118.