STAFF and residents at Sharston House Nursing Home in Knutsford have given Wilmslow Food Friend a major boost by presenting the group with 50 food bags.

Residents at the Kingsley Healthcare-run home in Manor Park South packed the bags, which contained a range of items, including soup and biscuits, as well as masks and hand sanitiser.

Resident Sheila Tittle presented the bags to Food Friend manager Flo Knowles.

Sharston House manager Nishi Gottlieb said: “As a company we are committed to supporting our communities, especially at this difficult time.

“We supported Hope Central foodbank in Knutsford earlier in the year.”

Flo said: “We have more than 150 active users of the food bank. We would not be able to do what we do without the generous support of local businesses and individuals.”

Knutsford Guardian:

Resident Sheila Tittle with Food Friend manager Flo Knowles

Food Friend has reopened at St Bartholomew’s Church on Thursdays from 10am to midday.

Flo said a risk assessment had been approved for this to take place, and social distancing protocols were in place.

She said: “A huge thank you to the ‘pop-up’ food bank volunteers – C19 Styal, especially Wayne, Andy and Jay, who have been collecting donations, making up food parcels and delivering to our food bank clients and many more over the past six months.

“We hope to continue working together during this next phase/ easing of lockdown, still caring for those who are shielding.

“We have delivered to nearly 50 new families since lockdown, and fear this will continue to rise with the long-term consequences of the pandemic; job losses and increased mental health issues.

“Local support has been overwhelming during Covid-19, which will enable us to continue this work for the foreseeable future, so a huge and sincere thank you to you all.”

She offered thanks for grants from Equilibrium Financial Planning, The Driven Advertising, Cheshire Police Safer Communities Fund, John Lewis and Partners ‘Partners Through it All’ Community Fund, Waitrose Community Matters and thanked staff at Wilmslow High School for their charity cycle.

Donations and deliveries to St Bart’s between 10am and midday on Thursdays are now welcome.

The most needed items are sugar, pasta sauce, rice pudding, tinned potatoes, tinned meat such as corned beef, Spam, Fray Bentos pies, stewed steak, coffee and long life milk.

Food Friend still has donation points in Wilmslow Sainsbury’s, Alderley Edge Waitrose, Wilmslow Parish Hall and FITISM gym Wilmslow.

If you know someone who lives in Wilmslow Parish needing a food bank contact Flo on 07592 582567 or email flonew@hotmail.com