Thurrock foodbank has a new Operations Manager at the reins.

Starting this month, Sarah Cordell will be the foodbank’s first part-time employee.

Over 5,000 local people in food crisis are helped each year by the Thurrock foodbank.

Sarah lives locally and has been a volunteer at the foodbank warehouse for two years. She said: “I am really looking forward to taking on this new role. It is a big challenge but I’m supported by such a dedicated team of volunteers."

Sarah will coordinate the work of food collection, the warehouse operations, the ten distributions centres in Thurrock and over 200 volunteers who help out.

She added: "The new year is a very busy period for Thurrock foodbank."

The appointment comes following a special fund-raising drive.

The foodbank would like to encourage people to continue to donate food or time to help people in need.

More information at www.thurrock.foodbank.org.uk