Mansfield Forces charity the Joint Forces Alliance (JFA) is urging groups and individuals to back a campaign to end food poverty in the county.

The charity has launched a One A Month, Every Month Campaign and is asking people to get involved by either donating one item of food each month or by becoming a collection point for the donations.

JFA said SF Media Solutions, TIS (Mansfield) Ltd and the Ransom Wood Business Park in Mansfield had already agreed to help.

A spokesman said: “We are encouraging people to ask their bosses, head teachers, church ministers and doctors’ surgeries to act as collection points for the donations.

“We want as many people as possible to donate at least one item each month of tinned or none-perishable food, powdered, dried or dehydrated food and take it to the collection point that is nearest to them.

“Once the collection bins are full, the organisers can contact their local foodbank, which would be more than happy to collect and distribute the food.

“I would like to remind readers that more people than ever, including those at work, are having to utilise foodbanks to stop their families and pets going hungry.

“If we could encourage every business, factory and shop to have a collection point, and every employee, employer, customer and member of the public to donate, One A Month, Every Month could end food poverty in Nottinghamshire.

Last year, the JFA set up the Mansfield Community Foodbank Partnership with the Sherwood Forest Foodbank, which was set up by the Trussel Trust and dispenses emergency food assistance from its base on Church Street in Mansfield.

They successfully appealed for extra donations over Christmas.

For more details on the campaign and the JFA, contact Ant Ball, email [email protected] or call the JFA office 01623 622274. The charity is based at units 37/38, Block 7, Old Mill Industrial Estate, Mansfield Woodhouse, NG19 9BG.