An Evesham charity has been working to ensure that as many of the town's residents as possible do not have to go hungry.

The team at Caring Hands in the Vale, consisting of 40 volunteers and three members of staff, have been working to make a difference in their community by providing those in need with food resources.

The charity operates five resource banks, offering access to food, household items, baby supplies, homelessness aid, and pet food.

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Its team hosts drop-in meals three times a week.

This allows those having difficulty making ends meet to enjoy a hot meal while socialising and learning about additional support programmes run by the group.

In addition to these initiatives, the charity also runs a community pantry which can be accessed two to three times per week.

The team has supported over 5,000 Evesham residents annually through their services.

Tesco helps supply the charity with food through the Community Food Connection Scheme.

This scheme sees surplus food from the supermarket's stores across the county redirected to community groups like Caring Hands, reducing food waste and enabling the charity's pantry to remain open.

Diane Bennett, community outreach manager at the charity, said: "Since we became a registered charity in 2016, we’ve seen the demand for food parcels almost triple - especially since the cost-of-living crisis.

"Thankfully, with the help of our volunteers and the support from the local community, including the ongoing food donations from Evesham Tesco and FareShare, we know we can help those who are struggling in the area to have access to a normal meal - something which is sadly becoming harder for individuals to provide for themselves."

Sarah Briggs, store manager at Evesham Tesco, said: “It’s wonderful to witness the commitment the team at Caring Hands in the Vale put into their community. ‘Their dedication shines through everything they do, and to be able to assist them through the Community Food Connection is a fantastic opportunity to be involved in because everyone deserves access to a well-balanced meal, no matter their situation.”