Food care parcels scheme helps needy in Conwy
A project offering food parcels to the most needy is winning praise in the Conwy county seaside town of Towyn.
The Cymru Community Foodshare scheme parcels up basic food items to help tide over those in dire financial straits.
The project was founded around the town of Conwy, but has expanded to the edge of the county borough.
It is supported through churches in the area who donate both food and their time to the initiative.
The Reverend David Rowlands, who has been overseeing the Towyn operation at North Coast Church since they joined the scheme two months ago, said: "The foodshare scheme is for individuals who are going through a hard time, maybe they've just lost their job, and it's just to tide them over.
"It's a week's shopping, a week's groceries... maybe over a week, we'll do it for a couple of weeks for them to tide them over.
The food parcels contain goods such as tinned food and long-life milk, all donated by members of the church in the Conwy area.
The recipients of the parcels are referred to the church centre by social services or job centre agencies, and also through the church's own debt counselling service.
"We had one guy come who had lost all his tools, he was on benefits, and he needed to be tied over," said Pastor Rowlands.
"When he came here he actually burst into tears, thanking us for what we could do for him.
"We've only been doing it for two months and it has been really, really successful. There's been a great response, everybody loves it, everybody is really, really thankful for what is taking place."
Clwyd West AM Darren Millar, who also attends the North Coast Church as a member of the congregation was full of praise for the project.
"The foodshare scheme at North Coast Church is a great example of a faith community reaching out to support those in need," said Mr Millar.
"It's wonderful to see church members getting behind the project, donating food and giving to people in distress and I want to commend them for their efforts."