Stockton Food Power Network feeding families thanks to volunteers

A new electric “eco-van” has been rolling around the borough to help ship goods to the food banks and ease the burden on charities. 

It comes after Stockton Council stumped up £60,000 for the “Food Power Network” in the borough in the summer to help improve access to surplus food and train staff and volunteers.

The idea is the eco-van helps volunteers collect and box up surplus food from “FareShare distribution centres” – charity hubs which collect surplus food – and supermarkets to members of the FPN. 

Volunteer Nigel Jessop made his debut trip – with Morrisons at Teesside Park the first port of call. The 58-year-old, from Thornaby, has retired after spending more than 38 years in the civil service.

Mr Jessop said: “I’ve done some food bank stuff and dropped off parcels but this is my first run in the van. 

“The point of the Stockton Food Power Network is to move people away from the food banks really, and to get a bit more sustainability so people can go into community pantries and get their food. 

“But there is a big demand in Teesside.”

Morrisons at Teesside Park has helped food banks with surplus food across Stockton since the pandemic struck, and community champion Vikki Burns has steered the superstore’s efforts.

She said: “I think we had 11 food banks last year but it’s dropped down to nine we’ve helped out.

“Basically, what we do is we make up packs with stuff the food banks need and then customers buy them.

“Once they’ve been purchased, I split them down and divide them between the nine. Also Morrisons are doing a weekly food bank pallet, so if there’s excess stock in the warehouse, that gets donated.”

Brian Jones, 68, and his wife Stella, 66, run the Moses Project on Alma Street, previously a coffee bus out of Stockton in the late 1990s before forming the project in 2011 for men struggling with drink and drug addictions. 

“We spend an awful lot of time picking up donations and going to places so to have someone to go around and do it makes a big difference,” Brian said.

The project works mainly with people over 25 with drink and drug problems as well as those who are homeless, converting its efforts to a form a food bank in the past two years.

The Moses Project in Stockton which is working with supermarkets to distribute excess food. Samantha Walters from Moses Project with some of the donated food

The project helped between 50 to 60 people a day before the virus but the pandemic has seen those numbers drop to around 25.

Volunteer Sam Walters also offered up her time during the pandemic. The Primrose Hill mum had strong links to the charity after it helped her partner. 

Ms Walters said: “Brian took my partner to rehab and invited me along one night.

“I came along and was absolutely blown away by what Stella and Brian were doing. I asked to come along and help – they’ve also changed my life. 

“Nothing is too big or little for them – they’re like family.”

Council officer Jane Webb said the Moses Project was key in delivering food to people in the first lockdown of 2020 “morning, noon and night”.

“Moses is a really good example of one of the organisations we’d support through the use of the van – and getting that surplus food to all the right places,” she added. 

“We’re just starting out but eventually there will be a Sustain hub in Middlesbrough. So when the Middlesbrough one opens in January or February, that will see all the surplus food gathered and put there.”

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