Dudley Council to give £25,000 to food bank
Dudley Council is to pump £25,000 into the Black Country Food Bank to help the service cope with soaring demand.
The number of people using the food bank, based in Brierley Hill, rose by more than 1,000 last year.
As desperate families turn to the service at an increasing rate, the council said the funding would be used to help those most in need.
The cash will come from the council's Welfare Assistance Fund, which is set aside to aid crisis-hit families.
The council's deputy leader Stuart Turner said: "By providing funding to the Black Country Food Bank we are able to reach people most in need.
"It provides a real lifeline for some people and with our help I am sure we can reach more people who need a little helping hand in these tough times."
Emma Crook, from the Black Country Food Bank, said: "It's frightening to think of how necessary the provision of emergency food has become.
"We really value the council's partnership as we provide a few days' essentials to local people in crisis.
"This breathing space can have a real impact when people are faced with what can sometimes be devastating challenges and uncertain futures."
