BASINGSTOKE Foodbank has been given a welcome boost – thanks to a £3,000 charitable donation.

The much-needed service has helped hundreds of people since it was set up in October last year at Trinity Methodist Church, in Sarum Hill.

The foodbank, set up by the Trussell Trust charity and run by volunteers from more than 30 Basingstoke churches, helps families, couples and individuals who are in desperate need.

It provides enough food to last three days for people who have been identified as being in crisis while also pointing them in the direction of agencies which can help with longer term issues.

Basingstoke Foodbank gives food to up to 20 clients a week, amounting to almost two tons of food a month.

Sovereign Housing Association recently donated £3,000 to the service as part of a £12,000 grant to four Hampshire foodbanks.

Paula Vallance, centre manager at Basingstoke Foodbank, said the team are very grateful for the donation.

She said: “We are mainly dependent on the charitable donations of individuals, so the £3,000 from the Sovereign regional panel has been a huge help.

“We’ve been able to pay for several months’ rent, ensuring that we can continue opening to help those in need. It has also helped us with the daily running of the foodbank – admin and paperwork, general supplies and voucher printing. With the remaining money, we will buy essential food when our stock levels run low.”

Andrew Adams, vice-chair of Sovereign’s Hampshire Regional Panel, said: “We felt that the money should be spent on a project that would offer the most value-for-money and the greatest benefit to the local community, especially to Sovereign residents.

“The Basingstoke Foodbank has been running for just under one year, but has already helped so many people. We hope that through this donation, it will continue to grow and support those who really need it.”

Sovereign’s Regional Panel for Hampshire is looking to support more local projects. For more information, email hampshire@sovereign.org.uk.