Hebburn Helps volunteers helping hundreds of people in South Tyneside during the coronavirus crisis

Staff and volunteers from Hebburn Helps food bank and crisis response centre have been out and about helping those most in need since the UK went into lockdown on Monday, March 23.

In the last week the team has provided 120 pack lunches every day to children in Jarrow and Hebburn, to help those families struggling since the schools closed to all children except those of key workers, on Friday, March 20.

They have also been delivering isolation packs containing food and toiletries to those who can’t leave the house because they are self-isolating.

In the last eight days alone they have helped a total of 258 children and 149 adults – from newborn babies up to the age of 85 – as well as 35 dogs and 19 cats.

The food bank has lost a number of its team due to the guidelines, which advise anyone aged 70 and above or with underlying health conditions to stay at home.

But co-founders Angie Comerford and Jo Durkin have been joined in their efforts by a new group of volunteers, including local teachers from St Aloysious RC Junior School, St Oswald’s Primary School and St Joseph’s Catholic Academy in Hebburn who are no longer at work due to the school closures.

Jet 2 pilot Michael Booth, of South Shields and his son Ian, are also among those who have stepped up to help their community, along with Jarrow MP Kate Osborne who was out helping to deliver packed lunches on Tuesday, March 31.

“They are like a dream team, said Angie.

“They are an absolute pleasure to work with and we couldn’t have done it without them.”

She added: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that keeps on supporting us whether it be with food or cash donations. There’s still a long road ahead of us but by pulling together we have shown we can make one hell of a difference.”

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