A foodbank helping hundreds of families has received an unexpected boost thanks to a North-East building society.

Kings Church Foodbank is the latest good cause to benefit from Darlington Building Society’s pledge to donate 5 per cent of its profits to worthy community organisations.

Staff at the foodbank, in Darlington, spoke of their joy at receiving £3,000 from the building society.

Foodbank manager, Caroline Todd, said: “We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of Darlington Building Society, this gift is such a blessing and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

“This money will allow us to purchase foods and essentials which we‘re running low on but are desperately needed by the families we support.”

Kings Church launched its foodbank in 2012, but with the onset of Covid-19, staff and volunteers have seen a dramatic increase in the number of families in need of extra help.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, nearly 200 families a week have accessed the foodbank.

“In an ideal world, no-one would need to use the foodbank and we wouldn’t be needed at all,” Caroline added. “However, in the current climate, it’s clear that services like ours are more vital than ever.

“A lot of good people have lost their jobs because of Covid-19, and we want to do our best to support them through this difficult time. We couldn’t do that without the support of our beloved community, and especially caring companies like Darlington Building Society.”

Darlington Building Society Chief Executive, Andrew Craddock, said: “Supporting great causes in our communities is central to our ethos. The work of the Kings Church Foodbank has never been more important and we are delighted to have been able to provide this financial help in these difficult times.”

• To support Kings Church Foodbank, visit:

www.kingschurchdarlington.org/foodbank or call 01325 469446 to make a donation. Families in need of emergency food supplies can access the foodbank’s help by visiting Kings Church at Prospect Place, Whessoe Road, in Darlington. A list of opening times is available on their website.

Photo: Staff and volunteers prepare food parcels at the Darlington foodbank (from left): Monda Bardhaj, Richard Ashaw, Andrew Coltman, Caroline Todd.