When ShelterBox heard that Helston’s Food Bank was looking for extra storage space, it was quick to offer a helping hand.

With the charity helping people who have lost everything all over the world, staff decided it seems a natural fit to help families nearer to home who are struggling to get by.

The chance to lend a hand came after ShelterBox facilities co-ordinator Chris Nelson and logistics manager Shane Revill found out that Helston and Lizard Food Bank was searching for dry and secure storage space in the Helston area.

ShelterBox has some portacabin space currently unused at its Helston HQ, and has made an agreement with the Food Bank for them to store foodstuffs there.

ShelterBox chief executive Alison Wallace sayid: "It always fulfills a natural instinct when one charity finds a way of helping another, so we are delighted to be able to offer storage space to the Food Bank to continue its vital work. ShelterBox owes so much to its Helston roots, so it feels good to be able to help some local people even in this modest way.

Mustard Seed is a Helston-based charity that for over 19 years has helped vulnerable people, the homeless, the unemployed or those in debt. In November 2011 Mustard Seed’s Development Manager David Williams agreed with Penryn and Falmouth’s Trussel Trust Food Bank to set up an outlet in the Helston area.

The Helston & Lizard Foodbank was officially launched in February 2012, with supporter Rachel Bray running the project as a volunteer in its first year. It serves a population of over 31,000 people, spread over an area of 111 square miles including St Keverne, Mullion, Porthleven and Helston.

Neither the Trussel Trust nor Mustard Seed receives any financial assistance in providing this service other than donations and help from local individuals. Demand for the Food Bank’s services is rising, up 120% on last year.

David Williams said: "Food poverty in the UK is on the increase, and this should not be the case in 2013, but unfortunately it is. Thankfully we have charities such as Shelterbox that are willing to help. Helston & the Lizard foodbank has grown and is growing by the month, and has continued to struggle to store the food that is so kindly donated by our local community.

"We have been blessed with the amazing kindness and generosity shown by Shelterbox in providing a temporary storage solution. We now have an area to store food that does not leak rain, is warm and comfortable and will go a long way in helping those that the Helston & the Lizard foodbank reach out to help."