Food banks are run by the community for the community. A food bank is a place where donated food is distributed to those in need or an emergency. Many people in Dorset have been hit by the economic downturn. Local people are experiencing a crisis that is not their fault such as changes in benefit, debt problems, divorce, sickness, bereavement, redundancy, rising food and fuel prices, low wages, all leading to a rise in people turning to a food bank.