Hopes of a new foodbank centre for needy people in Holbeach has been raised by the town’s new vicar.
The Rev Rosamund Seal, who was appointed last August, confirmed this week that talks are under way with other church leaders in town to set up a satellite centre of Spalding-based Agape Care Foodbank.
Since it was opened at The Lighthouse Church, Haverfield Road, in April 2011, the foodbank has given out more than 400 food parcels to crisis-hit individuals and families in South Holland.
The charity’s work was extended later that year when a second centre was opened at The Market House, Long Sutton, which handles about five requests a week.
The idea to extend the foodbank’s work to Holbeach was “floated” by Mrs Seal in an article published in this month’s All Saints’ Church, Holbeach, magazine.
An extract from the article said: “I attended a lunch at Agape Care Foodbank in Spalding (where) I suggested to Pastor Chas Sandhu, who heads up the Foodbank from The Lighthouse Church, that I thought it might be a good idea to start up an outpost – both for collection and distribution – in Holbeach.
“His response was that they had already decided that Holbeach ought to have such an outpost, but they didn’t know who to approach.
“There is a serious need for the church to get back to its basic commission to be good news for the poor.
“It was Jesus’ commission after all (but) those who were rich were not very happy about it then and they may not be now.
“But it is what we are called to do and a local foodbank would be a good start.”
Mrs Seal wants anyone interested in helping to set up a foodbank in Holbeach to contact her on 01406 370791 or email rosamund.seal@btinternet.com
She said: “I’ve floated the idea of opening a branch of the foodbank in Holbeach so that those in need don’t have to travel to Spalding or Long Sutton.
“I’m aware through working in the town’s schools that there are some needy families here and I also foresee that with the newly imposed benefit cuts and reorganisation, an increasing number of people are going to need the support of such foodbanks.
“My plan is to contact the other churches in Holbeach and any other people who might be interested in getting involved, then have a public meeting to which someone from the Spalding branch would be invited in order to assess the interest.
“We could then explore possible venues and put a plan in place to set a foodbank up.”