Second Darlington foodbank makes 'incredibly difficult decision' to cut back support
A second Darlington foodbank has announced it has cut back its support due to funding difficulties.
St Mary's Church, Cockerton, said it is struggling to maintain its foodbank service and warned it could close within months.
Visitors will now be offered one food bag a month from May.
It comes after King's Church, also in Darlington, recently revealed it has significantly scaled back its operation after a drop in funding. The service, which operates out of facilities on Whessoe Road, provided more than 125,000 free meals to people last year but saw its donations dry up despite increased demand.
The news of St Mary's also reducing its support came less than a week later.
Father Damon Bage, of St Mary's Church in Cockerton, Darlington. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)
Father Damon Bage said the church is currently spending more than £200 per week on providing service, and if that continues, would be forced to close by July.
'So that we don't close fully we've had to make the incredibly difficult decision to drop down our offering to one bag a month beginning in May,' the announcement read.
'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 Foodbank will still be open every week and that NEW clients who come along will be given food bags for four weeks. Sadly we can't sustain that for everyone all the time.
'This decision hasn't been made lightly and we would really appreciate people sharing this information as widely as possible.'
Council leaders have been urged to improve and rethink how they support foodbank services and protect vulnerable residents. Jonathan Dulston, leader of Darlington Conservatives, said the foodbank cuts should act as a wake-up call for Darlington Borough Council.
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'This is now an opportunity for us to rethink how our foodbanks across the borough work together in partnership,' Cllr Dulston said.
'I'm going to work to get foodbank leaders around the table to discuss how we can ensure foodbank provision is maintained across the borough, but also rethink how we deliver a universal foodbank programme across the town with solid information sharing.'
Money from the council's Household Support Fund was allocated towards King's Church foodbank to help keep it afloat.
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