Plans to set up a food bank to help struggling families in the Keynsham area

So many families in and around Keynsham are struggling to feed their families that plans are being drawn up to set up a food bank.

Last year Bath Food Bank, based at Manvers Street Baptist Church, helped more than 50 families in Keynsham, and now there are plans to set up a dedicated food bank to help people in Keynsham, Saltford and nearby villages.

Working under the More To Life banner, a group are carrying out investigations to establish the need within the community but say they have already been advised by Keynsham Citizens' Advice Bureau (CAB) that problems with benefits and an inability to buy food for their family is fast becoming their top problem from those contacting them.

Chairman of the food bank working group, Alan Hale, said that the Cooperative supermarket in Keynsham had already given an assurance that it would support the food bank with regular food collections.

The group is waiting to hear back after approaching Tesco in Keynsham and Asda in Longwell Green too.

Mr Hale said: "Last year Bath Food Bank serviced 56 families in Keynsham and that was, for want of a better term, 'without trying'.

"The Churches Together In Keynsham and Saltford group have given their support to the project and have made available some working capital, and the Lions Club of Keynsham has committed £1,000 towards the food bank for food once it is established.

"As part of the preparatory work the group has spoken to the Bath Food Bank and also the food bank at Bradford on Avon.

"The two banks are completely different in size and manner of operation but the Keynsham group hopes to learn from both models and select the best way to go forward."

He added: "This project will enable the whole community to come together in one way through giving food donations, or in another way be helping as a volunteer. We hope that various community groups will be motivated to make regular food donations or help on the collection of food at supermarkets or to help boxing up issues of food and maintaining stock records."

Anyone wanting to find out more can contact the working group on 0117 983 7923.

The CAB is based at Riverside in Temple Street and offers a drop-in session from 10am to 2pm,  Mondays and Thursdays.