Food bank receives two years’ worth of donations in five days after being featured on documentary

A struggling food bank highlighted on a documentary has benefited from the equivalent of more than two years’ worth of donations in the days since the show aired.

The BBC Two programme Cornwall with Simon Reeve described the plight of the Transformation CPR Foodbank as it battled to meet growing demand from people living in poverty.

The food bank’s founder, Don Gardner, 75, was interviewed by Mr Reeve the day before the funeral of his wife, Jen. She had died of lymphoma. His story touched the hearts of viewers, and £160,000 of donations were made in five days after the programme aired last Sunday.

Mr Gardner described the response as “unbelievable” and said it had “lifted a weight of worry”.

He had told the programme that his wife had worked “tirelessly” and added: “Jen would want me to tell people of the hurt, deprivation.”

Actress Dawn French, who lives in Cornwall, had been among those who praised Mr Gardner’s dedication, and others on social media called for him to be knighted.

The food bank provides around 14,000 meals a month and was struggling to meet its £60,000 a year running costs.

Mr Reeve said: “Don is an absolute hero.”