'We live in a community that has kindness running through its veins' : Hebburn Helps praises people of South Tyneside as the charity celebrates fourth anniversary

Hebburn Helps founders (left) Angie Comerford and Jo Durkin.

Hebburn Helps, which was set up by friends Angie Comerford and Jo Durkin back in 2015, marked the incredible milestone on Tuesday, June 18.

Its community food bank and crisis response team are a voluntary community organisation that was set up to help families struggling to make ends meet.

It provides the likes of food parcels, clothing and household items.

Hebburn Helps founders Angie Comerford and Jo Durkin (right) are celebrating the fourth anniversary of the organisation.

Since it was founded. the charity says it has helped more than 4,000 people through its food parcels.

Jo Durkin, 50, said the last four years had been an ‘emotional rollercoaster.’

She said: “Four years ago we took the plunge and made the group on Facebook to put the feelers out to see if anyone needed any help and now it has grown into this.

“I have been in a similar situation myself and so I just wanted to help other families.

Jo Durkin with items that have been donated for families in need.

“It has been one big learning curve and one hell of a journey.

“We are going to continue in the long term as the demand has grown greater over the years.

“It has been a rollercoaster and it is emotional to reach our four year anniversary.”

She continued: “At Hebburn Helps there is always such a positive energy and we always try to make sure that someone who has walked in feeling sad, walks out with a smile on their face.

Hebburn Helps co-founder Jo Durkin when the charity held its Christmas toy appeal.

“We want to thank the community, as without them we wouldn’t be where we are.

“We named it Hebburn Helps because we knew Hebburn would help.

“The community is a big part of us.”

Co-founder Angie Comerford, 43, also praised the community and thanked their team of volunteers.

The Hebburn Helps Christmas toy appeal. (From left) Angie Comerford and Jo Durkin.

She said: “What a journey it has been, we’ve laughed and most definitely cried, there’s been some pretty heart wrenching moments and if I’m honest we’ve managed to wing our way through an awful lot and learned as we’ve grown.

“We have some truly beautiful souls who dedicate their time to us week in and out and we couldn’t do this without them.

“I am so grateful for the path that we have ended up on and the promise is that we will carry on doing our best for each and every single person that needs us.

“We are lucky enough to live in a community that has kindness running through its veins.

“Thank you so much to everyone that has supported us.”