A FOOD bank has been set up inside a Sutton church to help give back to the community during the pandemic.

Many people have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis, leaving families short of cash and unable to buy the food they need.

With that in mind, Sutton Parish has established an independent food bank inside St Michael's Church of England Church on Gartons Lane, where families in need can attend each Sunday for a parcel of food and items they need.

This was the idea of pastoral assistant Sam Rigby, who saw the need in the area.

Sam said: "We realised the need in the area in October and set ourselves up in the back room of St Michael's Church as a base as our research showed that area of Sutton was most in need and were set up by December.

"We know it can be quite difficult to qualify for food bank vouchers, and that many feel shame when they are in the situation where they are in need of help.

"But needing help is nothing to be ashamed of, especially in this time of national crisis.

"We decided with that in mind, that we would run independently, you don't need any signposting to qualify, if you need a parcel for your family just come by on a Sunday and you will receive one no questions asked.

"We know many are managing during this time, but some are not and as a community we need to work together to support each other.

"We know that in the first pandemic Clock Face Miners Club run a pop up food bank for the community, so we enlisted their help and contacts and alongside our parishioners and kind hearted people in the community we have so far fed 177 families in total since December alone."

If anyone wants to help please drop off non perishable food and toiletry items to St Michael's Church on Sundays.

Alternatively if you want to help but are self isolating or elderly, you can call 07765736199 to have items picked up.

Deliveries of parcels can also be arranged by the same number for those in Sutton only.