MP praises food bank volunteers for their 'amazing work'

Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden came to visit Excel Foodbank, a project which has worked to help people across Bilston and the surrounding area during the coronavirus pandemic.

The food bank, which operates out of Excel Church in Bilston, has delivered more than 12,000 food parcels since March, including 500 to families in need during the October half term.

Mr McFadden came in to meet and talk to volunteers and said he was blown away by the work the food bank, which has more than 30 volunteers, had done to help the community.

He said: "It started as a small project back in March and it has just grown and grown through the amazing work by John Raj and the other volunteers.

"I spoke to some of the volunteers and learned how some of them had received help from this foodbank and had decided to come and help themselves, which I find really inspiring.

"It really shows the spirit here in Wolverhampton and even though we're going through a public health crisis, people are still willing to volunteer their time to help others."

The food bank, in addition to continuing to send out food parcels, has also started a Christmas Hamper campaign to send out 120 hampers full of essential items to homes and schools around the area.

Food bank coordinator John Raj said the support of people like Mr McFadden was a real boost to him and the volunteers.

He said: "It's very uplifting and encouraging to see someone like Pat come down to support us and thank us for the work as its very important for the food bank to be acknowledged.

"With the hamper project, we want to help families to have something at Christmas, so we have different items that can go into the boxes we've created and can adapt as necessary."

To find out more about the Christmas Hamper project and to make a donation, call 01902 402273.