A service that provides food for the needy within the community is celebrating its first birthday after feeding 1,000 people.

Since it was opened in last October by the Elim Pentecostal Church in High Path, The Wimbledon Foodbank has collected eight tonnes of food.

A total of 65 people, referred to the service by various charities and social support organisations, now regularly rely on the foodbank, with demand continuing to rise each week.

The Rev Marcus Bennett, of the Elim Pentecostal Church, said: “Elim Church had just moved to the current building in High Path.

“Once we were settled in, we were looking for a way to serve the community.

“The same week, a friend mentioned the trestle trust and food banks to me, and then a guy who we had previously fed when he had lost his job through mental health problems, resurfaced to ask for assistance a second time.

“That was our eureka moment. The man later told us that our gift of food had saved his life.”

Donations can be received by the church on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between 9am to 5pm and can include non-perishable food, toiletries or items for children and babies.

The church will also be holding a thanksgiving service on Friday, November 9, at 7.30pm when they will be asking for donations on the door. For more information on donating and volunteering call 020 8544 0126 or email wimbledonfoodbank@gmail.com