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Organiser Steve Chevis
explains how the scheme works

Former Thamesteel employees have been given more than 3,500
meals from an emergency food bank - in just over a week.

Boxes containing enough food for a family of four for five
days have been available from Seashells children and families
centre, Sheerness since February 17.

It was set up with a £10,000 donation from Ward & Partners
via the Kent Community Foundation and a grant by the Queenborough
Fisheries Trust.

Thamesteel, in Sheerness, went
into administration in January with the loss of at least 350
jobs.

Steve Chevis, Diana
Partington and Eileen Jackson, from Seashells Children and
Families' Centre, with food parcels for Thamesteel workers

But the emergency aid kicked in when Cllr Ken Pugh put in a
plea for help to Children and Families boss Jim Duncan. Within
two days the food bank was operating.

Jim Duncan said: "It all happened very quickly, but it needed to
happen that way as there were people in serious difficulty.

"Kent County Council provided great support and brought together
the public, private and charitable sectors to meet the
challenge.

"We are indebted to local people who have volunteered their time
and made the project a great example of how a community can help
meet its own challenges."

Anyone who would like to support the food bank
can visit the website

or phone 01795 889233 to make an appointment.