VOLUNTEERS from the Poole Community Exchange charity have clocked up more than 3,000 miles distributing food across the Bournemouth conurbation to more than 1,000 people each week.

The charity says it has responded to an "overwhelming demand" for its services since the pandemic started.

Pre-lockdown the exchange provided meals for 20 people a week – post lockdown they've teamed-up with other organisations to help feed more than 1,000.

In the time since lockdown first started the Parkstone United Reform Church-based charity has diverted its usual weekly meals provision to support 34 hostels for young people, homeless people and those in supported or emergency accommodation; 52 hostels and refuge drops a week; 753 household drops for families or single people struggling financially, those self isolating and refugee families.

Community exchange chairman and trustee Mark Phillips said: "The work we are doing during the pandemic is about feeding people and ensuring no one goes hungry during this time."

Meanwhile, BCP Council leader Vikki Slade said: "The scale of work taking place in the community to feed vulnerable people, redistribute good quality surplus food and reduce food

waste is phenomenal."

Poole Community Exchange usually supplies food in the form of weekly community meals, served to between 10 and 20 people at the Parkstone United Reformed Church. Their aim is

to support people who have been marginalised, are vulnerable or excluded.

A spokesman for the charity said: "Working with FareShare Go and FareShare Central Southern (Southampton), PCE’s operations have significantly increased and a collaborative effort between staff, volunteers and many local organisations has resulted in over 29 tonnes of food being provided locally in the last eight weeks.

"That’s over 3,000 miles volunteers have clocked up in collecting, delivering and redistributing food.

"Poole Community Exchange is always looking for support in this vital work and would be very happy to chat with anyone interested in volunteering or donating."

FareShare is the UK’s national network of charitable food redistributors, made up of 17 independent organisations.