A VOLUNTEER has launched an online fundraising page in a bid to raise much-needed funds for a town’s struggling foodbank.

Lami Bearder, chairman of Harwich Foodbank, is trying to raise £1,000 for the charity, based at the demountable building in Morrisons car park in Dovercourt.

It takes donations including toiletries and nappies, tins, packaged food, frozen goods and fresh food - but not alcohol.

The 38-year-old said the self-funded foodbank gets between 50 and 60 families a week.

She said: “We have to spend a lot of money on food and we rely on the community for donations. There is also a lot of hard work put in from our group of volunteers.”

Lami added: “I have been the chairman for just over a year and the level of donations depends on what time of the year it is. At Christmas we get inundated with donations, but they do quieten down afterwards.

“We have teachers come in and have had a postman come in too. It is not just people who don’t work, it’s all sorts of people who need us.

“Even if 1,000 people in Harwich could donate a pound each we could reach our target and get so much food.

In 2015 the foodbank helped about one thousand of the town’s most disadvantaged families, then last year that doubled.

To donate to Harwich Foodbank click here.