A FOODBANK volunteer is giving away heat cushions he invented to bring winter warmth to those in fuel poverty.
Steven Dobinson, who helps out at Influence Church’s Storehouse foodbank in Barnard Castle, came up with idea of creating the cushions while talking to people about those who are struggling during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 26-year-old said: “It was my idea to put rice inside socks. All you do is put it in the microwave. I experimented a few times and it works well. We put it in for two minutes and then it keeps the heat for about an hour.”
He started the project by buying different sizes of socks and bags of rice using his own cash but is now hoping people will donate more items for him to carry on making the heat cushions.
Mr Dobinson said: “I’ve made about 15 but then I ran out of rice. For the first lot I’ve used my own money, but it is for a good cause so I don’t mind. There are quite a few people struggling, and with Covid even more people are struggling, and heating is more expensive.”
The cushions will be distributed to the foodbank’s customers and anyone who wishes to donate rice or socks or the project can drop them off at Influence Church on Galgate.
