Food bank restocked after it was raided by panda mask-wearing thief | UK News

A 12-year-old boy whose food bank was raided by a thief wearing a bizarre mask has had its shelves restocked.

Isaac Winfield was just nine when he opened his first food bank in Redditch, Worcestershire, during the coronavirus pandemic after being inspired by footballer Marcus Rashford.

He’s since opened four sites in total, after struggling to keep up with demand for the food bank in his garden shed.

He managed to send out more than 4,000 food parcels this year alone – but two locations, including one at his family home, were burgled earlier this month by someone wearing a panda mask. Items work around £50 were stolen.

Thankfully, Isaac has been able to restock the food banks after supermarket chain Aldi donated items worth £500 – as well as a number of other donations after news about the thefts spread.

Isaac also received a £1,000 donation after appearing on ITV’s This Morning shortly after the thefts.

He said: ‘I was delighted to get the donations. The shed looks really well-stocked now.

‘Thank you to my team and thank you to my supporters.’

Isaac’s mum Claire Chapman, 43, explained: ‘I hopped onto the CCTV and the first image I got was the back of the head and the ears [of the mask].

‘I thought “what is Mickey Mouse doing in the shed?”. I was in a state of disbelief.

‘I picked Isaac up from school and I explained to him what had happened, and he just put his head in his hands and cried.

‘This was two days before his 12th birthday, so it was a real shame on what should have been such a happy start to the week.

‘The £1,000 donation was just incredible. I think that just picked Isaac back up so much. It’s been amazing.

‘It’s also kick-started his Christmas toy campaign so there will be a little bit of money in the pot to buy some toys for families that would otherwise not have anything for their children this Christmas.’

Isaac began his food bank with a £40 shop but now spends around £250 a week on items.

It is open to anyone by appointment, with 15 volunteers helping the Friends of Isaac’s Food Bank, which runs the sites.

Alarms are now being fitted at the sites to deter future break-ins, with a fifth site set to be opened later this year.

Julie Ashfield, managing director of buying at Aldi UK, said: ‘Like everyone, we were appalled and saddened to hear about Isaac’s food bank, so we are delighted that we can help where we can and ensure he continues to be able to do his amazing work.’

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