New shed from Wickford Rotarians proves a Salvation for food bank

New shed from Wickford Rotarians proves a Salvation for food bank

The Gateway Project, which has been in operation since May, is a joint initiative organised by the Salvation Army and churches in Wickford to provide food for residents who find themselves struggling to make ends meet.

The Rotary Club of Wickford heard there was a need for further storage for food supplies at the Salvation Army headquarters in Wickford, where the project is based, and stepped in to provide a solution.

A shed was formally handed over by Rotary Club of Wickford president, Chris Bushell, and was gratefully received by Paul Waldron of the Salvation Army.

Gateway Project organiser Mr Waldron said: "We always needed somewhere to store the food but with increasing demand it had become more urgent.

"There are more people coming in to see us each week and being referred to us.

"This might be caused by the change in the weather causing fuel bills to go up and for the last four or five weeks

we have noticed an increase in demand."

A team of nine volunteers meet at the Salvation Army from different churches in the area and offer packages of food as well as tea and a chat every Thursday from 10am until noon.

Mr Waldron, 40, continued: "We have around 25 people using the service in that two hour slot.

"When we set up the project we didn't know what to expect. We knew there was a need for it but you can't put figures on this sort of thing.

"When people want help we are here for them, some people want to sit and have a cup of tea and others come and go