Boost for Craigavon food bank

At the launch Brownlow Neighbourhood Policing Team simultaneously made criminals pay and helped families get back on their feet with a donation to the food bank at the former Drumgor Community Centre

Officers recently recovered £450 from the seizure of stolen metal which was found in the Brownlow area.

The team visited Craigavon Food Bank to present a cheque along with Tesco who are also sponsoring the local charity.

Sergeant Alwyn Peters, Brownlow NPT, said: “The Food Bank is designed to help those families who are in immediate need with no means of support. We plan to work with the food bank to help identify families and individuals that may benefit from this service.

“We are delighted to be able to support this local charity with the proceeds of crime and see our community benefit from crime that we have detected with their support and help.”

The first distribution centre for Craigavon Area Food Bank was opened on Monday at the Lightwell Centre, formerly Drumgor Community Centre.

Staffed by volunteers, the food bank is open from 1pm to 3pm on a Monday, 6pm to 8pm on a Wednesday and 12noon to 2pm on a Friday.

During these times, people can come with a food referral form and receive three days worth of non-perishable food. They also have the opportunity to have coffee and a signposting service is provided to various support organisations.

The food bank provides food for people in an emergency or crisis situation. Food donations are received from the public, this food is then sorted and processed at the food bank warehouse (located in the Carn Business Park).

An increasing number of people are finding themselves in food crisis situations, food security is a UK wide issue and it happens for a variety of reasons.

Craigavon Area Food Bank hope to opening distribution centres in Lurgan and Portadown town centres in the coming months.