Vulnerable people in Crow country will be able to get a helping hand feeding their families after the launch of Royston Foodbank.

Royston Crow: The launch of the Royston FoodbankThe launch of the Royston Foodbank (Image: Archant)

The foodbank was officially opened on Saturday, March 29, with Royston’s mayor, Cllr Bob Smith, performing the opening ceremony at the launch event, held at the Open House Project, Market Hill, Royston, and donated a box of food on behalf of the town.

Foodbanks provide short-term emergency food supplies while people seek more permanent solutions. Residents are referred to the foodbank by support agencies.

Nationally, the use of foodbanks has grown rapidly, with more than 70,000 people a month using the service, a six-fold increase compared to two years ago.

The Royston Foodbank has been 10 months in the making, and is being run by a team of volunteers in conjunction with foodbank charity, The Trussell Trust.

A spokesman for the Royston Foodbank said: “We have looked at the figures and, after some initial research, concluded that we needed a local foodbank.

“We have spent the last 10 months working hard to get to this point, and we are so grateful for the generosity of the local community, without whom we could not have brought this project into being.”

Royston Foodbank chairman Matt Hall added: “Thank you to everyone who has helped us, especially Homestore, Bedstore and Cecil Newlings for provision of storage space given free of charge, Johnson Matthey, The Brian Racher Trust and the councils – town, district and county – for financial assistance and the churches of Royston and the villages for their help and support.”

Volunteers are still being sought, as well as further donations of food or funds.

For more information, email info@royston.foodbank.org.uk or visit www.royston.foodbank.org.uk