A council has stumped up an emergency grant of £2,000 to help a foodbank during the coronavirus crisis.

Sandwich Town Council, as Trustee of Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund, has approved the sum for Sandwich Foodbank, part of Deal Area Foodbank, which is experiencing unprecedented demands during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funds will go towards purchasing food, to make up for reduced donations, increased demand and stock shortages, plus fuel costs for the volunteer drivers, as the service is now operating by delivery only.

Particular emphasis is now being given to those who are ill and elderly and those who have no one who can get to the shops for them.

The Mayor of Sandwich, Cllr Jeff Franklin, said: “These are exceptional times, when we must support those who are doing so much to support the most vulnerable in our community.”

Foodbank coordinator Sheila Ward said: "Thank you to the Sandwich Toll Bridge Fund for their grant, which will enable us to ensure that we can provide food to those in food crisis in the Sandwich area throughout these challenging times as we find unprecedented levels of need at a time when donations of food have dropped."

Priory Fields School has also made a kind gesture to Dover Foodbank.

They have donated 95 Easter eggs which were intended to be used in the school’s Easter activities.

If anyone is struggling to obtain food and would like to discuss getting food delivered, they call Deal Area Foodbank on 01304 728428 or email info@dealarea.foodbank.org.uk

Alternatively, call Dover Foodbank on 07870 361 180 or visit www.dover.foodbank.org.uk

There is still a Deal Area Foodbank collection point at the Co-op store in Moat Sole, Sandwich, where residents are encouraged to make donations.

Dover donations can be left at Morrison’s or JLH Accountants at the junction of London Road and Tower Hamlets Road (same junction as The Eagle pub).

Read more: All the latest news from Sandwich