Foodbank volunteers in Gateshead have spoken of their disappointment and shock after a break in on Monday night.
The foodbank at The Winlaton Centre is also run as a social supermarket, where members of the community are able to get food at reduced prices or even free, should they need it. A break-in took place after the centre closed on Monday night, with police investigating the matter.
The suspected thieves are thought to have entered the foodbank, which is in a garage, by breaking panels off the double doors. Volunteers didn't realise that anything was amiss straight away, as the panels had been propped up against the garage door.
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However, on entering, they found food strewn across the floor, damaged equipment, and that products from fresh meats to sanitary products had been taken. Tuesday is "market day" at the centre, but the foodbank has had to remain closed today and will do so until everything is fixed, leaving those who had come for food disappointed.
Eileen Bullock a volunteer trustee, said: "They've taken numerous things off the produce shelves and they've taken food out of the freezer. They've emptied the freezers of chicken and fresh tuna and they've taken all the meals that we keep for single people and those who don't have cooking facilities.
Eileen said that the scene she came across on Tuesday morning was disappointing and unexpected, and that it has caused a huge amount of upset to both volunteers and foodbank users. She said: "It's a market day and we can't put our matket on today.
"It's a shame because we all work so hard going round picking things up from different shops and we put so many hours in to sort it out and make it available for people who need it."
Janet Walton, manager of The Winlaton Centre, echoed Janet's sentiments, saying: "Our volunteers work so hard seven days a week to provide food and the ironic thing is if they needed it, they could have come in. I can't believe it, we're actually in tears.
"There are people who really do depend on being able to come up. These people may not come through the main door asking can you help me with food because they've got to show themselves as saying I've got no money.
"It's not about the money, it's about being able to access food either free or at an affordable price. That's not going to happen today now, so there are going to be people who won't come out because they don't want to come in and be seen asking for food, people have pride."
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "Just after 8am today (Tuesday), police received a report of burglary at The Winlaton Centre, on North Street, Winlaton. Enquires are ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101 or the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of our website, quoting log NP-20230620-0214."
