Hot off the back of this month’s gold award in the Dorset Tourism Awards, Fish ’n’ Fritz in Weymouth decided to look for a way to say thank you to the local community.

Paul Hay, the owner of Fish ’n’ Fritz, carried out some research and soon discovered the demand for emergency food from Weymouth Food Bank grew by 33 per cent in 2020.

That equates to more than 45,000 meals distributed to adults and children in the Weymouth area during last year.

And the high demand is continuing in 2021.

Paul said: “When I found out the truly staggering demand Weymouth Food Bank has, I knew it was an organisation we wanted to help out.

“Helen from the foodbank told us about the need for fresh fruit and veg at this time of the year.

“So that’s what we did.”

Fish ’n’ Fritz donated 60 family fruit and vegetable boxes containing potatoes, carrots, broccoli, onions, parsnips, cabbages, swede, apples, bananas and grapes.

“For me this donation was a way to say thank you to the local community who have supported us so much over the last 24 years,” said Paul.

“For many, the effects of the Covid crisis in 2020 and 2021 has been incredibly tough mentally, physically and financially.

“People are falling through the cracks and need help.”

Helen M, of Weymouth Food Bank, said: “We are very grateful to Fish ‘n’ Fritz for donating fresh fruit and vegetable to give to our clients.

“We usually supply non-perishable food as this is much easier for us to store.

“However, knowing that this food was coming allowed us to plan accordingly.

“Having fresh food like this made a lovely change for our clients and was really well received.

“Thank you again, Paul, for your kindness.”

Weymouth Food Bank’s ethos is: ‘No member of our community should have to face going hungry.’

Every week the food bank provides three days worth of nutritionally balanced emergency food and support to local people in need and referred to them.

In 2020 Weymouth Foodbank provided help to 3,378 adults and 1,639 children with 45,153 meals in total.

If you, or someone you know, needs help, you can gain access to the food bank through the agencies they work with.

These include Citizens Advice, First Point, The Lantern, Christians Against Poverty, Refresh, doctors surgeries and health visitors, social services, children’s services, and some local charities.

If you’d like to donate, you can contact the food bank through its website weymouthfoodbank.co.uk, email weymouthfb@outlook.com or phone 07531 167465.

The food bank operates Tuesday and Fridays at Weymouth Baptist Church, on The Esplanade, Monday at Westham Methodist Church, Newstead Road and on Wednesday from St Francis’ Church, Littlemoor.