WORCESTER’s food bank is in desperate need of volunteers to continue to help people in crisis.

There need to be at least five people at the centre in Carden Close when it opens every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Ann-Marie Ison, Worcester Food Bank manager, said it was not a dire situation but they were struggling when people were ill or had other commitments.

“We are just about getting by. Last Wednesday though there was only two of so we could only open up the warehouse because there was not enough staff to serve customers.

“Having extra volunteers would mean we could give people more breaks and would put less pressure on the volunteers.”

Mrs Ison said she also hoped to get enough volunteers on Tuesdays and Thursdays to deal with the huge amount of food that has been donated.

“We need help sorting the warehouse out because we are tripping over each other as we bag up food.”

The food bank was opened in June and supplied food to its 1,000th person just before Christmas when it was being used by over 60 people a day.

Since the new year, numbers have returned to an average of 20 a day.

Organisations such as Social Services give those in need three vouchers which supplies nine to ten days worth of food – enough time for benefits to kick in.

Anyone over 18 can volunteer and will be given training.

Application forms are available from Worcester Food Bank, Carden Court, Carden Close on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11am to 2pm.

Alternatively, call 01905 780400 or e-mail info@ worcesterfoodbank.org.uk.