A PLEA for the older generation to use the Bordon Food Bank came this week from Susan Longman, who is retiring as organiser after nearly two years running the distribution depot at St Mark’s Church, in Pinehill Road.

In her place will be Heather Ford and Brenda Watson, although Susan said she would still be around as a volunteer, adding: “But family commitments mean I can’t continue as organiser.”

During her time she has seen the range of goods the Food Bank accepts expand to household goods such as toothpaste, soap and shampoo “which if you think about it are essential items people need”.

In her role, she has been speaking to schools, Women’s Institutes and other organisations about the Food Bank and the need it fulfils in what is regarded as affluent Britain.

She said: “It is true that the demand does fluctuate but with the colder weather it will increase, which we welcome because one thing we don’t want to see is food go to landfill.”

One of the main beneficiaries are couples with young children “where the man is out of work or their income has been reduced because the mother has given up her job to look after the children”, Susan said.

She added: “Also we are called on to help in emergencies, sometimes a flood or fire or strangely even death. When a husband dies his widow can’t always get access to their bank account until probable has been settled.

“There are also other emergencies we are asked to help with, such as one man who needs his car for work but it broke down and had to be repaired. So he had to use the money to pay the bill, which meant there wasn’t enough left from his wages to buy food, a Catch 22 situation, and were happy to help him and his family.”

Susan said what they would really like to see “is the older generation using the Food Bank instead of just managing”.

She said: “They are that proud generation who cope without complaining but if there is genuine need I do hope they will come to the Food Bank which, I would remind them isn’t a charity, it is there to help and we get so many generous donors who do it because they too want to help people who may be experiencing some financial hard times.”

To use the Food Bank people must first get a referral note from their doctor, the CAB or health visitor, but Susan said: “We would never turn anyone away if they really need help.”

Being the organiser for 19 months had, she said, “been very rewarding”.

She added: “I would like to thank all our volunteers and the organisations who support us and, of course, the people who actually give the food so generously.”