Food bank to close amid rising costs

A food bank serving an East Yorkshire town has closed after 16 years due to rising costs and a drop in donations.

The Mission Trinity Food Bank, which supports people in Goole and the surrounding villages, began as part of the local Methodist church's mission to help homeless people and those facing financial hardship.

Founder David Sample said: "Over time our funds have declined and declined, to the point where we can't really afford to keep going much longer, and also because of this cost of living crisis that's going on at the moment."

He said the charity was buying in food up to three times a week to keep up with demand despite a drop in donations.

"We've had to go out and buy more food with our funds, so we've been spending an awful lot more just to keep the basics in," he said.

He said personal circumstances had also incluenced the decision.

Sample was originally employed by the church to run the food bank, but since being made redundant he has been running it as a volunteer.

The food bank, which supports about 50-60 families and individuals each week, will continue to run until January.

Sample described his time at the food bank as a "rollercoaster", and said he had some "stressful times" as well as some times when he encountered heart-warming moments.

He said: "We've encountered people struggling with grief and their world falling in around about them, and they've come to us for help.

"We've done what we do and a couple of years later, they've been back and brought us stuff, so it's been very good that way."

Sample thanked all the "unbelievable" volunteers who have supported the food bank over the years.

He said he would be "happy" if someone came forward to take on the food bank, but they would need to find new funding streams to keep operating the project.

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