Advertisement

William and Kate praise ‘vital’ work of food banks

 (PA)
(PA)

The Prince and Princess of Wales today praised volunteers for the “vital” work they do running a local food bank.

They joined in too, packing parcels for those who are struggling during the cost of living crisis.

The royal couple visited Windsor Foodshare, just a stone’s throw from their Berkshire home, which offers not just basics such as bread and pasta, but also, unusually, eggs and fresh fruit and vegetables.

Their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, are also aware of the project as it is supported by their new school, Lambrook, the Kate revealed.

She said that some of the pupils come down to visit and see food bank first-hand, although it is understood that none of her children have done that yet.

The organisers said the private prep school helps through harvest festivals and food drives.

They were met on Thursday by Foodshare’s organiser, Sarah Kember, and Reverend Matthew Scott, minister of Dedworth Green Baptist Church, where the initiative is based.

 (PA)
(PA)

They were taken inside to have a brief chat about how the project was set up a decade ago.

Its 48 volunteers now help around 7,000 people a year and have seen demand for its services soar by 18 per cent in the last 12 months as the cost of living crisis has bitten.

Each parcel will last around four days and can either be picked up from the church or delivered.

Toiletries and cleaning products are also provided on a monthly basis.

Individual and families are referred from a variety of sources such as schools, doctors, social services, churches and community wardens.

The initiative, which part of Windsor Christian Action, gets no government funding and relies on donations - both in terms of produce and cash - from the public, as well as donated goods from local supermarkets such as Tesco, Aldo , Waitrose and Marks & Spencer.

It costs £21,000-a-year alone to provide the fresh produce.

Mrs Kember said: ‘We are now helping around 200 people a week and for many of them this is the only fresh food they will get all week.”

William packed food deliveries which feed a family of four while Kate checked food labels were in date.

 (PA)
(PA)

At one stage when she was chatting to a group of four volunteers, William joked that they should pick up the pace and stop chatting.

He also joked with one volunteer that Kate usually does the shopping and laughed with another about knobbly vegetables.

Volunteers were “shocked” to find out they would be meeting William and Kate, and some worried that they had not put their make up on, but they said the royal couple put them at ease with their “natural” and “down to earth” manner.

Ms Kember said: “I had to tell them (the volunteers) a few porkies such as that we had a corporate visit or a school visit.

“They were such a lovely couple. They were down to earth and friendly, and really put us at ease.

“William was very neat at packing. They were interested in what happens in our local area and interested in how the food bank started and how we get donations.

 (AP)
(AP)

“They are welcome back any time, we are always grateful for a pair of hands.”

Volunteer Linda, 72, who did not want to give her surname, told the PA news agency: “It was fabulous. We didn’t know until we got here, we had no idea.

“I asked William if he did the shopping normally and he said sometimes but usually Kate does it.

“They were very human and down to earth, very nice, asked lots of questions and were very interested. It is definitely something I will remember.”

Volunteer Emma Pilbrow said: “They were very natural and down to earth. I felt they wanted to be here and they showed a lot of interest.

“They asked where the food comes from and what happens to any vegetables that were left over. I also joked with them about knobbly vegetables.”