SCHOOL children have helped collect more than 1.5 tonnes of food for needy people in Winsford during harvest collections.

Twenty schools and various churches have helped the Mid Cheshire Foodbank (MCF) swell their stocks ahead of winter – when the charity forecasts that rising bills will cause more people to turn to the service.

The MCF’s four distribution centres in Winsford at Christ Church, Wharton, St John's Over, St Joseph's and the Edge, have helped feed almost 745 people, including 273 children, since the first centre opened earlier this year.

MCF provides an emergency supply of food to people in short-term need, often caused by sickness, benefit delays, sudden changes in income and mounting debt.

They also help signpost visitors to other agencies to find a long term fix for their predicaments.

Joint chairman of the Foodbank, Michael Foreman, said: “We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of people with over 20 tonnes of food donated in the last 12 months.

“Just under half of the food donated came from the general public though supermarket collections, with the other half coming from the many community groups, churches, schools, businesses that collect food.

“We also get cash donations from individuals and groups and have received a number of grants.

“We would like to thank all of the people and groups who have contributed to the foodbank over the last year. Please continue. Your support it is much needed.”

Mr Foreman added that ongoing support was needed to help people suffering through fuel poverty.

“Any extra pressure on living costs will tip some people into crisis – so yes the rises will have an effect,” he said.

“Foodbank support is not intended to be ongoing so people will need to find ways to adjust in the longer term, but we do support people through immediate crisis such as might be caused by the receipt of their winter bills.”

Winsford’s new deputy mayor, clr Gina Lewis, said the charity was ‘doing a fantastic job’. “The amount of food donated both by the centres themselves and the supermarket trolley collections is a wonderful example of generosity in the community,” she added.