Portland Foodbank received a grant of £5,000 to support food purchases and fuel costs for deliveries being made by volunteers. Since the Coronavirus outbreak, they have seen the number of people who need their help double and the lock down and social distancing situation has also made their work very challenging.

Cllr Kate Wheller explained: ‘Portland Foodbank has always been a much used and appreciated facility. Whilst being a wonderful place to live Portland has very high percentage of elderly people on basic pensions and low waged young families. At the outset of the Coronavirus crisis demand more than doubled and quickly outstripped our donations. We have been immensely grateful to Dorset Community Foundation for its grant. Lockdown has resulted in a reduction of food donations and we have been spending £1000 each week to cater for essential provisions.’