Film plan for food bank founded by ex-drug addict

The story of how a single mum recovering from drug addiction started a food bank in her garden shed could become a documentary.

Screenwriter Tim John is raising money to produce a feature about Vicki Jarvis, who lost custody of her four children after being admitted to a rehabilitation centre in 2003.

A year later her family was reunited and Ms Jarvis joined a church in Bournemouth, which offered food to people in need.

She helped to start the town's food bank in 2005, which now helps an estimated 13,000 people a year.

Ms Jarvis said her life spiralled out of control after a week in which she divorced her husband and attended a close relative's funeral.

She said that turned her "normal and structured" life into something "completely chaotic" and her "worst nightmare".

Mr John, who lives in Ashley Cross, Poole, met Ms Jarvis after donating to the food bank in St George's Methodist Church, Boscombe.

The screenwriter said he was inspired to donate after his work on the film A Street Cat Named Bob, which is about a homeless drug addict who adopts a stray cat.

He explained: "To get so increasingly aware of the homeless situation in the UK, that was quite emotional.

"So a producer and I gave some money to Bournemouth Foodbank and they were incredibly grateful.

"When I went there, I asked them to tell me a bit more about how it operates and I thought Vicki's story was very moving and there was a film in it."

Last year, Bournemouth Foodbank provided more than 115,000 meals, with an estimated 30,000 of those being for children.

Mr John has set up a GoFundMe page, with the aim of raising £30,000 to pay for the documentary and sell it to a TV company.

Any profits will be donated to the food bank, which would also receive the money raised if the film is not made.

Mr John added: "Vicki wanted to give something back and that grew very quickly.

"It's an odd measure of success because it means there are so many people who need the food bank.

"So many feel guilt or shame about addiction or going to a food bank, but they find this sense of community and now I'm hoping I can find the film community to make this story happen."

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