A FOOD bank that has helped nearly 1,000 people in crisis in Bridgwater is upping sticks – and five tonnes of food – to new premises in the New Year, but will have to find yet another home in the spring.

On January 3, the volunteer-run service will move from its current home, the Enterprise Resource Centre in Northgate, to the former Mount Street Day Centre, in time to re-open on January 7, thanks to an offer from Somerset County Council.

Almost immediately, however, the Foodbank will have to start seeking a new venue as the day centre is only available until March 31.

Cllr David Huxtable, Somerset County Council cabinet member for resources, said: “Bridgwater foodbank is a great asset to the community and we are delighted they have accepted our offer to move into Mount Street.

“We have always tried to help them as much as we can, starting earlier in the year when we agreed to let them use the Enterprise Resource Centre as a temporary base.

“With the building being sold we had to ask them to vacate but we are not Scrooges and have since been working to find them somewhere else to go.

“The Mount Street premises are available until the end of March – allowing the Foodbank to see out the important winter period and hopefully giving them plenty of time to find a new permanent home.”

Andy Sharman, chairman of Bridgwater Foodbank, said: “We would like to thank Somerset County Council for everything they have done to find us a new temporary home.

“It is great news. We can spend the Christmas period focusing on helping vulnerable people and not worrying about our short-term future.”

Ted Stock, food collection co-ordinator for the foodbank, said: “We are desperate, because we need a permanent home.

“The motto of the Trussell Trust is ‘restoring dignity, reviving hope’, so we need some kind of privacy on the doors, to keep people’s dignity.

“Yet, at the same time, people have got to be able to get to us. Most of them haven’t got anything, so it would have to be in town.”

Reflecting on the clear demand for the Foodbank, Ted added: “It’s disgusting in 2013 that we have to do this to help people but we have to do it because people are in crisis.

“I want to weep sometimes, because people are in such a bad state.”

The service will be open between 10am and noon on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.