The family of a mother who died suddenly last month have made a huge donation to Ashford Foodbank in her memory.

Maxine Ovenden was a supporter of the charity, which helped her several times, so her mother Dawn Sharp and brother Keith Ovenden felt the donation would be a fitting tribute to her.

Mr Ovenden, 40, said: “Maxine was a fun-loving, outgoing person. She enjoyed life and she worked until she got ill. You could always rely on Maxine – she once took an entire family into her home when they had nowhere to go. She was caring and loving.

“Foodbanks help people who haven’t got any money, people who have to choose between paying for electricity or buying food. They helped Maxine out three times during very difficult stages of her life. This is a cause that was very close to her heart.”

Friends and family at Ms Ovenden’s funeral and afterwards donated food, toiletries and household items as well as money, which Mrs Sharp and Mr Ovenden used to buy more goods.

They have amassed a staggering £600 worth of goods, about twice the amount pictured, which they will give to the charity in Mabledon Avenue, Willesborough.

Mrs Sharp, 58, said: “The way we deal with Maxine’s death is to tell ourselves that she is now at peace and no longer in pain. She was happy when she died. She had just spent a nice Christmas with her brother and her son and she was looking forward to coming on holiday to Spain with me.

“People don’t realise there are foodbanks there to help. If just one person takes one carrier bag full it will help someone. The foodbank told me they are in desperate need of sugar, tinned vegetables and tinned meat. But it’s not just food, people need shower gel, shampoo, washing powder etc too.

“People can feel free to make donations to the foodbank in Maxine’s name. Nothing is ever going to bring her back but if we can do something to help other people that’s a great thing.”

Thirty-nine-year-old Ms Ovenden, who died on January 14, worked with her mother and brother at Adjustoform Group on Ashford’s Mace Lane Industrial Estate.

She lived with her 20-year-old son Charlie and well wishers also held a collection for him, raising £300.

At Christmas, Elham Valley and Wye Lions made a donation to the foodbank in memory of Ms Ovenden.

More than 150 people attended Ms Ovenden’s funeral at Charing Crematorium and the wake at the Queen’s Head pub in Kingsnorth, many wearing red, her favourite colour.

Her family is awaiting the results of a post mortem examination to find out how she died.

To contact the Foodbank visit www.ashfordfoodbank.co.uk or call 07504 629395. Alternatively, take items to Adjustoform A E Arthur Group, Units 1 and 2 Mace Lane Industrial Estate, Ashford, Kent, TN24 8EP, from 7am to 4pm Monday to Thursday or 7am to noon on Fridays.