SHOPPERS, volunteers and supporters of Atherton and Leigh Foodbank have helped to raise money and supplies for people in crisis.

Staff from Supermarket giant Tesco in Leigh and Atherton held a trolley dash and with the help of generous shoppers raised £800 and more than three tonnes of food.

Atherton and Leigh foodbank relies on donations and volunteers to keep the service going and since it was founded in 2013, it has helped 7,750 people in crisis.

The service runs from three meeting points in Atherton and Leigh and is open five days a week for two hours each day.

Project manager Wayne Done said: "I got involved with the food bank because for one I lost my job and people helped me out but two I am also a Christian and I believe in Jesus and helping to feed the poor.

"At the end of the day we could all be one pay cheque away from needing help.

"I think about 80 per cent of the people that we help have been able to get back on their feet after three vouchers which would give them and their family members three meals a day for three days.

|"We also supply pet food, nappies, toiletries and home cleaning products.

"There is a stigma attached to food banks and I think people are a bit embarrassed, but I do see a change in people from when they come in to when they leave. We don't push them out, they can stay here and have a chat and it's about giving people back that bit of dignity.

"We do have quite a few services coming into us now as well which can give advice to people, we are becoming a bit of a one stop shop so to speak."

Asda in Leigh will be holding a trolley sweep on July 25 for Atherton and Leigh Foodbank.

Foodbanks in Leigh and Atherton are located in Kingsley Methodist Church, which is open from 10am to noon on Monday and Tuesday, Leigh Baptist Church from 10-12 noon and Atherton Parish Church on Wednesday and Friday 10am to noon.