TWO tons of food has been donated to Cirencester Foobank following their harvest festival appeal.

More than 30 schools, churches and community groups donated to the foodbank’s appeal throughout September and October and the final amount is now confirmed to be around two tons.

The foodbank, based in Ashcroft Church, has been operating for several years and has seen an increase in the number of people visiting since it was founded.

Chairman of Cirencester Foodbank Mandy Fry said: “Our stocks were really low after the summer holidays as we were feeding children who weren’t getting free school meals.

“It’s even more than we had last year which is amazing. It’s just wonderful that people are willing to give so generously when they are struggling themselves.”

Some of the largest donations came from Rendcomb College, Hatherop Castle School and Ann Edwards C of E Primary School.

The colossal 470kg of food donated by Ann Edwards Primary School was shared between South Cerney residents and Cirencester Foodbank.

Rencomb College also reported that it took their team of volunteers the better part of a morning to load their donations into a minibus.

Juniors’ Headmaster Martin Watson said: “Once again it was an amazing sight to see the array of wonderful gifts that were generously donated, which will be put to excellent use by the Cirencester Foodbank.”

Foodbanks take donations of non-perishable food items which are sorted by volunteers and then distributed to those in need.

Care professionals such as doctors, social workers, the police and others identify people in crisis and issue them with a foodbank voucher which can be exchanged for three days worth of emergency food.