Darlington church food bank to limit people to one bag over costs
"In the intervening weeks, clients are welcome to come and drop in for coffee and help themselves to whatever fresh food we have had donated that week."The food bank will still be open every week and new clients who come along will be given food bags for four weeks. Sadly, we can't sustain that for everyone all the time."
'Wake-up call'
St Mary's made the announcement just days after King's Church, also in Darlington, revealed it had scaled back its food bank operation following a drop in funding.The service provided more than 125,000 free meals to people last year but saw its donations dry up despite increased demand, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Conservative Jonathan Dulston said the cuts should act as a wake-up call for Labour-led Darlington Borough Council."This is now an opportunity for us to rethink how our food banks across the borough work together in partnership," he said. Money from the council's Household Support Fund was allocated towards King's Church food bank to help keep it afloat.Darlington Borough Council has been approached for a comment.
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