A REDDITCH foodbank has had to reduce its opening hours after it was ransacked for the second time in two months.
The Friends of Isaacs Foodbank in Greenlands and Batchley operate on a basis of trust – the policy is for people to visit one site and only take what they need.
But in the early hours of last Friday and again on Saturday two people raided the foodbank.
Claire Chapman, who runs the foodbank alongside her son Isaac Winfield, said she was saddened she has been forced to close the foodbank overnight.
Claire said: “After further abuse of our kindness we have decided neither Isaac, the family, or the team can take the upset any further.
“We apologise to those impacted by these changes and we are working on a way to keep supporting you.”
Photographs of the two people believed to be responsible have been posted on the Friends of Isaac Facebook page and posters have been put up around the town.
Claire added: “We are testing the water at the minute and are opening in the morning at around 9am to 9.30am and closing on the evening after 8pm.
“After being ransacked in March it was such a blow to have this happen again.
“Isaac has spent most of his Easter holiday fund-raising and collecting stock for his food bank and is upset that yet again his kindness has been abused.”
West Mercia Police confirmed a 27-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man were arrested in relation to a separate indecent and have since been released with no further action.
Under current laws, it is not a crime to steal from a foodbank such as this, as it is open for people to take items.
Although the foodbank will reduce its opening hours, Claire said they would work with families who had to visit at night.
“Lots of people work shifts, are embarrassed about needing to use a foodbank.
“For those genuine people we urge them to get in touch and we can try and come up with a solution.”
Visit Friends of Isaac’s Foodbank on Facebook to get in touch.
