Council leaders have pledged to support Darlington’s food banks after several services announced funding difficulties and significant cutbacks.
Darlington Borough Council said it will help the struggling services “as best as we can” after meeting local representatives.
The local authority has been urged to rethink how it supports the schemes, which often rely on donations and the help of volunteers.
Earlier this month, King’s Church revealed it had significantly scaled back its support 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.
Food parcels are now available one day a week for people referred to the service by social services and other organisations.
Michael Coltman, from King’s Church, said people using the food bank has rapidly increased since it opened in 2012, but funding has stalled. “The appetite for giving to foodbanks seems to have dried up,” he said. “We don’t know why, but we have seen a huge drop off in the funding available.”
In Cockerton, visitors to St Mary’s Church Foodbank will be offered one food bag a month, starting in May, after its organisers warned it could close within months.
Money from the council’s Household Support Fund has been allocated to food bank services in the borough to help secure their futures.
Councillor Stephen Harker, Leader of Darlington Borough Council, said: “We met with representatives from most of the borough’s food banks to understand what problems and pressures they face.
“It is a complex picture, but it is clear there is a willingness to work together. Although money is a factor, other, more practical issues can be addressed. Once we have a clear understanding, we will work with the food banks to provide support as best we can to help them continue providing this vital and much-needed help.”
He added: “In addition, the council is spending £1.6 million this year, through the Household Support Fund, providing support to vulnerable households. Over half of this fund is being used to provide food vouchers to families with children who receive free school meals, during school holidays.”
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