THE FOODBANK is spreading its wings to offer a service in Tadcaster and surrounding villages after being given the free use of a van.
The Wetherby and District Foodbank (WADF) says it can now offer its services across the whole of the Lower Wharfe Valley, thanks to the generous gift from fresh meat and poultry supplier, Sykes House Farm of Wetherby.
Gail Bowen, chair of the trustees, said the farm had also provided everything needed to run the van, including tax, insurance, maintenance and even fuel.
“We could not believe it when we got the news about the offer,” she said. “Not only will it allow us to extend our services to Tadcaster and surrounding villages, something we have wished to do for some time now, but it also means that other local charities, including other foodbanks such as the ones in Harrogate and York, will be able to use the vehicle.
“It is a gift of huge impact and importance to our foodbank and our community, and we are enormously grateful.”
Robert Smith, from Sykes House Farm, said: “We have always done numerous small things for the local community but the foodbank charity is something where we thought we could help in real terms.
“The foodbank team are the ones doing the hard work and they can’t be praised enough; we hope the use of our vehicles eases that pressure.”
The jointly liveried vehicle will be used by both Sykes House Farm for its own business purposes and collecting and delivering food for the foodbank, or being used by another local charity.
Gail said it would work as a mobile advertisement for the foodbank. “Our ambition is that every single person in the area we serve knows about the foodbank – that it is there for them, if and whenever they need it – and this is a brilliant way of getting the word out there.
“There is no reason why anyone in and around the towns and villages of Wetherby and Tadcaster need go without food.” She thanked the foodbank’s many supporters for their help.
*People can contact the foodbank by calling 07840 455725 or emailing info@wetherbyanddistrict.foodbank.org.uk
