I am writing in response to William Long's letter (January 2) regarding food banks. 

As manager of the Restore Centre I am very pleased to host the Foodbank at the Centre, and I know that Heather Scholer, the Foodbank manager, and I are both very keen to make sure that no-one who needs the services of the Foodbank misses out, which of course includes Loughton’s OAPs.

This is how the Foodbank works: frontline care professionals identify people (of any age) who are in financial crisis, so that they are not able to buy food. Examples of those who can help are CAB, doctors, health visitors, social workers, and police. A Foodbank voucher is issued by the professional, and their clients bring their voucher to a Foodbank centre where it can be redeemed for three days emergency food. Volunteers from the Foodbank meet clients over a cup of tea and are able to signpost people to agencies willing to help solve the longer-term problem.

The Loughton Foodbank is run jointly by two local churches – St Mary’s and Restore Community Church. It is open on a Wednesday morning at St Mary’s Loughton from 10.45am to 11.45am and Restore Community Centre from 2 to 4pm on a Saturday.

You are very welcome to call in at the Restore Centre to sample our excellent (free) tea – we are open Tuesday – Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and at St Mary’s Church Café Hope is open from 9:15am to 2:45pm Monday to Friday.

Heather would welcome contact from other care professionals – her contact details are Heather Scholer Voluntary Foodbank ManagerLoughton Foodbank www.loughton.foodbank.org.uk 07402 032 313 (Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays. Answerphone facility at all other times). 

Judy Lovell, Restore Centre Manager, Loughton