'Tough' time for closure threat foodbank founder

John McGall runs the I am Reusable foodbank from his home in York

The co-founder of a foodbank which is faced with closure has said he is having a "very tough" time after also being threatened with stabbing by two men trying to break in to the premises.

John McGall, from York, said he managed to stop the burglars on 31 July, but not before one of them had warned, "I’ll stab you with my screwdriver" before fleeing.

Mr McGall said a few days after the attempted break-in, City of York Council warned him the foodbank, based in a shed at his home, could be closed in a row over planning permission.

He said he had been left "sickened and sad, because we put all this hard work in".

Mr McGall started the foodbank after retiring due to ill health

Mr McGall said he and his wife Julie had been running the I am Reusable community foodbank from their home for four and half years, along with a team of volunteers who fed up to 120 people a day.

“We have 160 donations a week – pick-ups and deliveries,” he added.

“They come from M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, SPAR, Co-Op, Londis, Bluebird Bakery, and even fat rascals from Betty’s.

"A local farmer gives us sacks of potatoes and this May we had 160 crates of asparagus that would otherwise have rotted in the ground.

“People get fed very well here," Mr McGall said.

He said he had started the foodbank after retiring due to ill health, but described himself as more of a “figurehead”.

However, he said he had had a "very tough few weeks" due to the attempted break-in and the question mark over the foodbank's future - as well as the recent death of his mother.

'Hard work'

Mr McGall said he did not believe the two men who had tried to break in to the shed were trying to steal food.

“It’s sad really. I’m sickened and sad because we put all this hard work in," he said.

"If I had understood more the consequences...It could have been bad, because I’m on blood thinners for the heart."

Mr McGall added that he had managed to put off the possible closure of the foodbank after being granted a three-month extension by City of York Council.

He said he had now started an online crowdfunding page to try and secure its future by raising money to pay for the planning fee for the foodbank.

“The council is wanting to shut us down over a planning application because an anonymous complaint was submitted two and half years ago,” he said.

“To submit the application costs a lot and it would take ages. The council comes to me for food. They’re wanting to charge me money for feeding people.”

Mr McGall’s Crowdfunding page has already exceeded its original £1,000 target and has so far raised more than £3,000.

He said: “Nobody wants to see foodbanks, but with the cost of living crisis, there’s no shame about using them anymore.

"People can just come and help themselves. There’s no judgement here.”

I am Reusable Community foodbank got about 160 donations a week, Mr McGall said

A spokesperson for City of York Council said the authority had supported the foodbank to meet statutory responsibilities and continue supporting the local community.

However, they added that the council could not waive the nearly £600 fee because it was a legal requirement set by national government.

“Clarification on the level of planning fee has been communicated to the foodbank to avoid any misunderstanding," they said.

"Organisations are also encouraged to formalise their governance status so they can apply for the widest range of available funding.

“It is important to adhere to the planning process to allow local residents and the wider community to share their comments, which are taken into account when a decision is made."

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