A FAMILY say they only survived a time of crisis thanks to the help of one of East Surrey's growing number of foodbanks.
Chris Gillett was struck down with a heart attack last year, aged 45.
He underwent bypass surgery and slowly recovered, but the sudden loss of income put the Merstham family in a position they never thought they'd face.
This time last year, his wife Dawn was left wondering how to feed herself, Chris and their four children; fruit was rationed because there was simply not enough to go round.
But a friend's suggestion that they turn to a foodbank run by charity Loveworks turned into a lifesaver.
"It took me about three weeks to actually get the courage to go down there," said Mrs Gillett. "We just felt embarrassed, ashamed, you hear about these things happening to people but you don't think it is going to happen to you.
"But when I did go, they just made me feel so welcome and comfortable, not different to anyone else, it was unbelievable how at home they made me feel."
The family received four food parcels from the charity, each with enough staples to last them about five days.
Chris returned to work in May and, now back on their feet, the family have become donors themselves, delivering a food parcel back to the charity this month.
"We vowed that, when Chris was better and back at work, we would take food parcels back to them," said Mrs Gillett.
"Now, every time we go shopping, we put a little bit aside for the foodbank, we want to take them two parcels per year."
She is backing our Christmas campaign, Give the Gift of Food, and calling on those who can to donate, and those who find themselves in need not to be ashamed.
"For us, without other people doing what they did and donating, it would have been very hard to survive, it would have been nigh-on impossible with what we had," she said.
"It means an awful lot to somebody who is in a crisis."
Loveworks is planning to open a second foodbank in Reigate in the new year. Other foodbanks opened in Caterham and Redhill this year, in addition to other organisations, such as the Salvation Army in Redhill, which also give out food parcels. A temporary food bank is also running in Preston over Christmas.
Anyone interested in volunteering for Loveworks' Merstham foodbank or at the one due to open in Reigate, can e-mail info@loveworks.org.uk
