PETERSFIELD Food Bank is making an urgent appeal for more donations as demand for food parcels rockets because of the lockdown.

Many local people have taken salary cuts, been laid off or sent home on furlough, the scheme that sees the government pay 80 per cent of workers’ salary for two months.

These changes have seen many visit the Petersfield Area Churches Together (PACT) food bank – but donations have fallen for the same reasons.

Food bank volunteer Danielle Balmforth said: “Volunteers are working harder than ever to keep up with demand from local people while supplies are dwindling.

“We expect demand to continue to grow in the emergency, but as most churches and buildings where donated food was collected are closed and fewer people are out shopping, supplies have fallen.”

Donations can be taken to Petersfield Methodist Church Hall, off Station Road, on Mondays and Wednesdays, from 10am to midday.

The food bank is appealing for long-life milk, cereals, porridge oats, tea bags, hot chocolate, tinned meat, rice, small bags of sugar, custard, rice pudding, toothbrushes and shampoo.

For details about donating visit the website at www.pact.org.uk/pact_food_store.asp or email Terry Doubleday on

[email protected] or contact him on 07837 030576.