A CARE home provider has joined forces with Dorset food banks to help people in desperate need this winter.

Colten Care, whose homes in Dorset include Castle View in Poundbury, Abbey View in Sherborne, and Whitecliffe House in Blandford, is inviting donors to drop off food in collection boxes at the sites or its head office in Ringwood.

They will be distributed to food banks battling to meet a surge in demand from families facing financial hardship and food poverty.

Mark Aitchison, Colten Care’s Chief Executive, said: “People can simply come with food items and put them in a collection box near our reception or front door.

“We will gather and take the items to the local food bank who will then include them in the food parcels they provide to their clients."

As well as providing collection boxes, Colten Care is donating food directly and inviting its regular suppliers to do the same.

Jono Tregale, Chairman of Trustees of Sherborne Food Bank, said: “We are very grateful to Colten Care for their support.

“We have a continual need to source food. We’re currently working with around 25 families a week, providing them with enough food to see them through.

“Food banks are seeing a surge in demand due to the impact of ongoing lockdown restrictions, rising unemployment and household financial crises.”

The Trussell Trust, another of the food bank networks being supported by Colten Care, recently released a report about the impact of coronavirus on the use of food banks nationally.

It showed families with children had been hardest hit by food poverty since the start of the pandemic.

The Trust forecasts a 61% increase in demand this winter.

Items most requested by food banks typically include tinned fruit, tinned meat, cereal, soup, pasta, washing-up liquid, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and pet food. Donations must be in-date and non-perishable.