Chorley's foodbank quoted £20,000 in quest to build a new place to call home

A foodbank run from the basement of a Chorley church is campaigning to build a new home above ground '“ but at a cost.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jul 2018, 14:09 BST
Updated 17th Jul 2018, 16:02 BST

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LivingWaters foodbank is desperate to move out of the church basement where they work.LivingWaters foodbank is desperate to move out of the church basement where they work.
LivingWaters foodbank is desperate to move out of the church basement where they work.

The LivingWaters foodbank, at LivingWaters Church in Bolton Street, has been running from the church’s basement for the last seven years.

But the current working conditions for its volunteers are dark, crowded, and require travelling up and down stairs with food parcels.

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Now foodbank founder Carol Halton, who describes the current facilities as “claustrophobic”, and volunteers are campaigning to build a new foodbank centre on the church car park at a cost of £20,000.

LivingWaters foodbank is desperate to move out of the church basement where they work.LivingWaters foodbank is desperate to move out of the church basement where they work.
LivingWaters foodbank is desperate to move out of the church basement where they work.

Carol said: “We’ve had the quote, it’s £20,000 to have a building on the car park to work from but we need your help – we can’t do this without you.

“We have no money to put towards this yet. Let’s bless the people in Chorley through this foodbank.”

The foodbank, which last Christmas handed out 800 food parcels to schools in a bid to stop children going hungry in the holidays, also offers extra incentives to help vulnerable people through Maths, English, and Cookery classes.

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Carol, who is on the church’s annual mission team to Indian, added: “We want a foodbank with windows in it, with room to move, with nice working conditions so that people here can enjoy coming.”

Dot Bolan, Nicola Cornforth, Jean Barden, Dan Walker, Pat Webb, Marie Harezga and Carol Halton on the LivingWaters church car park where they hope to build the new foodbank.Dot Bolan, Nicola Cornforth, Jean Barden, Dan Walker, Pat Webb, Marie Harezga and Carol Halton on the LivingWaters church car park where they hope to build the new foodbank.
Dot Bolan, Nicola Cornforth, Jean Barden, Dan Walker, Pat Webb, Marie Harezga and Carol Halton on the LivingWaters church car park where they hope to build the new foodbank.

She also revealed that the foodbank has had to turn volunteers away because of their lack of space.

Volunteer Pat Webb, who turns up every Tuesday and Friday to help out, added: “It’s cold in the winter and really hot in the summer so to have a really nice airy place would be wonderful.”

The plans for the new building have not yet to be officially submitted to Chorley Council.

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But if approved by council planning officers once done so, the church will have three years to start the build in line with planning protocol.

Volunteers Dorothy Bolan and Pat Webb.Volunteers Dorothy Bolan and Pat Webb.
Volunteers Dorothy Bolan and Pat Webb.

“If 200 people gave £100 or 20 businesses gave £1,000 we would have what we need. That’s an example of how easily we could achieve this together,” Carol explained.

“Without the help of the community we can’t do the work that we do. It’s not just project, it’s a community together project seen by the generous donations.”

• To donate visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LWStorehouse or call 07889 757045.

Related topics:Chorley