Gosport food bank coordinator feeling 'sick' after storage shed is burgled

Crisis Food Gosport, based in Holbrook, had its storage unit was burgled in the early hours of Friday, July 31.

Expensive food items were taken by the burglers, and what couldn’t be taken was destroyed.

The incident has crushed the group, which runs on the goodwill of volunteers and donations, and shocked Gosport residents.

Coordinator Charlotte Blake, 41, said: ‘I woke up and saw the shed was open and that the lock had been prised off. When I went inside there was pasta and rice everywhere.

‘I felt sick – this food doesn’t belong to me, but to vulnerable people in the town who are struggling in these tough times.

‘Mentally it’s sent me into a real downward spiral.’

Crisis Food Gosport was set up in March, in response to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.

Among the items stolen were corned beef, tinned tuna, sweets and desserts – as well as £1,000 of vinyl records from the adjacent garage, belonging to Charlotte’s partner, Craig.

Charlotte said: ‘This is the first time something like this has happened to us.

‘It was so unexpected and I think it was a random, brainless act by whoever did it.

‘They probably didn’t know what they would find but were just trying their luck.’

Following the burglary, the food bank has seen an outpouring of support from people in the surrounding area.

For example, while speaking to The News, someone arrived at Charlotte's door with a £10 donation for the organisation.

‘The support we have received is absolutely incredible,’ she said.

‘People have been turning up with donations of both food and money to get the food bank back on its feet.

‘We didn’t realise just how much people would care and are incredibly thankful to everyone who is helping us out.

‘Food Crisis Gosport started as a team – now it has become a community.’

The incident has been reported to police, and anyone with information can call 101, quoting the crime reference number 44200286900.

If anyone would like to help the organisation, people can go to crisisfood.co.uk.

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