BIG-HEARTED staff at two Black Country building society branches are aiming to bolster supplies at a Blackheath based food bank.

The Halesowen and Stourbridge branches of Yorkshire Building Society have started a collection of non-perishable items for the Black Country Food Bank.

Tinned food, pasta and biscuits have already been collected at the two sites and the branches are hoping further donations are just around the corner.

Lorna Kendrick, manager of the Halesowen branch, said: “The work the Black Country Food Bank does can be a lifeline for people in our local communities so we wanted to show our support once again for the cause.

“We’ve made a great start to the collection but I really hope members of the public and some of our customers will pay us a visit with whatever they can spare to make a difference to people in our surrounding area.”

It is the third year Yorkshire Building Society has collected items for the Black Country Food Bank, helping the cause to provide emergency items to vulnerable individuals and families in crisis.

Jen Coleman, who works at Black Country Food Bank, said: “For families and individuals facing a sudden crisis it can have a terrible effect on everyday living.

"We know the services we provide have an enormous impact, giving people an important breathing space at a time of great need.

“The help we get from organisations like Yorkshire Building Society is invaluable and we can’t thank them enough for agreeing to hold collections in their local branches.

The help the food bank offers includes three days of nutritionally balanced tinned and dried food, as well as toiletries and necessary baby items if required."

The Halesowen and Stourbridge branches of Yorkshire Building Society are open for donations of non-perishable items such as tinned foods, tea, coffee and toiletries weekdays 9am – 5pm, Wednesday 9.30am – 5pm and on Saturday 9am – 12pm.

Steven Painting, manager of the Stourbridge branch, added: “We hope that by being a collection point we’re making it easier for people who want to help, but perhaps can’t get to the food bank directly.”