Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank closes, with Acts of Kindness to operate temporary food bank

The Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank, which supports more than 2,000 people every year, closed its doors on Wednesday, March 25.

It comes as at least six independent food banks across the country, as restrictions put in place due to coronavirus pandemic have made it impossible for groups to staff and manage their sites.

Concerned that the closure would leave vulnerable people without a source of affordable food, Fareham Borough Council has offered a warehouse for Acts of Kindness to distribute the food bank’s remaining supplies and continue to distribute donations.

The founder of Acts of Kindness, Kerry Snuggs, said the group was handling more than 50 calls and emails a day from those needing help.

She said: ‘As a community we don’t want anyone to be left out so please call us. We have more than 100 volunteers from Gosport, Fareham, Stubbington, Locks Heath, Whiteley and Warsash ready to help.’

Council leader Sean Woodward volunteered help to move the food on Monday, March 30 , with the support of dozens of volunteers and a lorry provided by children’s motorcycle display team Solent Stars.

He said: ‘I am delighted that Fareham Borough Council has been able to provide accommodation to Acts of Kindness to ensure that essential supplies of food to those in hardship in the Borough are able to be maintained.

‘Many tons of food were moved from the food bank by volunteers and the council will be removing many tons more to ensure that the food is got to where it is needed as soon as possible.’

Fareham and Gosport Basics Bank made the decision to close temporarily with a ‘heavy heart,’ according to a statement on social media.

It said: ‘We hoped to stay open – in the the end our hopes were dashed. We simply ran out of volunteers either to man the operation or train back up teams.

‘Please be assured that that this is a decision which we have made with a heavy heart.’

The food bank hopes to reopen when possible.

The Covid-19 outbreak will leave thousands more people nationwide needing to use food banks, according to the Trussell Trust, which runs 424 food banks across the country.

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