Teignbridge Council stepped into the breach on Monday and helped out after food bank HITS suffered a devastating power failure over the weekend. A large quantity of food had been made unfit for consumption when the freezers stopped working.

Cllr Alistair Dewhirst, Executive Member for Waste Management, was contacted by his colleague Cllr David Cox, Chair of the Charity asking if the council could remove the food waste.

Within the hour Shane and Nigel from Teignbridge Waste Services had collected the waste from the new HITS headquarters in Kingsteignton and the charity volunteers were able to restock the freezers and get on with delivering food parcels to those in need in the District.

Homeless In Teignbridge Support (HITS) food bank provides support for people in need throughout Teignbridge.

During the Covid-19 Crisis period, HITS in conjunction with some local chefs are delivering hot meals throughout Teignbridge.

If you or someone you know is unable to shop for his or her self and has no support or would normally have help to cook meals, they can apply to have a free freshly cooked meal delivered to their door on Wednesdays and Sundays.

To arrange a Sunday meal, please phone Jackie on 01626 362070 by 1pm on Saturday.

To arrange a Wednesday meal, please phone Wendy on 01626 369135 preferrably 9-11 or 4-6pm by 1pm on Tuesday.  Outside these times please leave your name and phone number and Wendy will call you back.

Normal opening times are Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm although they do offer emergency cover at all times. 

A food bank spokesperson said: ‘We need a referral from an agency such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or Job Centre, who have assessed your need. The referrer must phone us on 01626 906371.

‘Homeless in Teignbridge Support works with homeless people and those in crisis and need in our community, throughout Teignbridge and in the more rural areas.

‘People that we have helped include those who are homeless, victims of domestic violence, ex-service personnel, the elderly, families in poverty, disabled people, ex-offenders and many others.’