THOUSANDS of food parcels are being delivered out to families in need across Cornwall as organisations pull together in the pandemic.

The demand for emergency support continues to rise, says Cultivate Cornwall CIC, which quickly adapted its operations in 2020 after realising the extent of food poverty.

The Bodmin-based CIC has now delivered more than 100 tonnes of food since last March – the equivalent of 30,000 meals.

In recent months Penmellyn Vets has helped Cultivate Cornwall by freeing up an industrial unit for the CIC to use, while a longer-term space to cope with the increase in demand is secured. Cultivate Cornwall is now supporting around 20 community projects, so that they can get more than 10 tonnes of food out in a typical week, including to some harder-to-reach rural areas.

The CIC has worked out that the projects receiving food from Cultivate Cornwall are consistently feeding more than one percent of the county’s population.

Within 24 hours of the third national lockdown being announced, says co-founder of Cultivate Cornwall Harry Deacon, the demand for emergency food in Bodmin has increased by 25%, leading to the CIC putting on an extra day of deliveries.

“We have heard similar reports from the other projects we support and we are now looking to our next phase of expansion over the winter,” said Harry, 24.

“Coronavirus has brought new challenges for us all, we are trying to make life just a little easier for the community during this time.

“As a small team we wouldn’t have been able to get to this level of support without the huge amount of help we have received from those around us, and all the new and existing volunteers that have joined us to make it happen.”

Cultivate Cornwall will continue to work with FareShare South West and envisages supporting 50 local projects each week in the county in the near future.

Devon and Cornwall development manager for FareShare Shelley Wright said: “It is a pleasure to partner with frontline community projects like Cultivate Cornwall. They know first-hand where emergency food is most needed in their community, and by working together we can ensure that food gets to those most in need.”

One of Cultivate Cornwall’s project managers George Bewley, 23, said: “Unfortunately, demand for the services we provide is only growing, which shows the real impact of the pandemic. We are now delivering thousands of meals each week.

“We owe a special thanks to the many organisations that supported us through funding, food donations and random acts of kindness. Funders include; Defra (through the COVID-19 Emergency Surplus Food Grant managed by WRAP), The National Lottery Community Fund, Western Power Distribution, Groundwork, and Tesco Bags of Help. A final thanks go to Penmellyn Vets, Fareshare South West and Re:act Disaster Response who have made this possible.”

For more information or to request a food parcel in Bodmin go to; www.facebook.com/The-Fare-Exchange-Bodmin