THE TEAM running Dorchester Foodbank is keen to reach out to as many people as possible this Christmas.

The service, which has been running since 2009 and provides food for people in need, has benefited from a “plethora” of donations from the generous people of the county town and is expecting another wave as we head into the festive period.

The team has thanked the community for its show of support and says they are now keen to make sure their haul of goods help as many people as possible at this time of year.

Chris Nowell from the Dorchester Foodbank said: “We are trying to get across really that we feel we are not reaching everyone that we should be reaching.

“People are so generous in this town and because of their generosity, and harvest in particular, we have a plethora of food at the moment and we are keen to meet people’s needs.”

Rosemary Hardwicke added: “The community is hugely generous.

“We have been on the go for about six years and it’s really chimes with people.

“We will get more in at Christmas with people offering to do advent calendars and crackers.

“We have the food and we just want to try and join the donors up with the recipients.”

The foodbank was set up by the Dorchester Baptist Church in response to the growing number of people facing hard times in the wake of the economic down turn.

Members of several local churches are now responsible for organising and running Dorchester’s foodbank, with a team of trained volunteers responsible for sorting and packing the food.

Chris said these people giving up their time were crucial to them being able to run the service.

He said: “Volunteers are vital to the running of it, we have a very dedicated team.”

For more information about the Dorchester Foodbank and how to access the service email foodbank@dorchesterbc.org.uk or visit dorchesterbc.org.uk/foodbank

The foodbank has now also set up its own Facebook page at facebook.com/dorchestersfoodbank