THE much-loved founder of the Penzance Food Bank and local church leader died suddenly last week – less than a week before Christmas.
Brenda Fox passed away unexpectedly at her home in Penzance last Wednesday night.
The 69-year-old set up the foodbank in the town last year which has since gone on to act as a vital lifeline for more than 1,000 people.
The dedicated volunteer was also the chair of influential group, Churches Together in the Penzance Area, an organisation representing local Christians from different denominations.
Ann Bellingham, foodbank clerk, paid tribute to a woman she said was always supportive and inspirational.
She said: "She was always cheerful, she had this tremendous capacity of making you feel you are the most important person in the world.
Exceptional
"She was a very public figure in the town as a well as a lovely person to have around. Looking back she really was one of the most exceptional people I have met."
Mrs Fox first raised setting up a foodbank in Penzance through her capacity as chair of CTIPA in May last year.
The organisation, which officially opened last October, took 1,247 referrals in its first year and to date has fed at least 1,326 people.
Mrs Fox was also an overseer of Penzance Quakers, as well as being chair of CTIPA. Mrs Bellingham said the volunteers at the food bank have all been rocked by her sudden death.
"She was meticulous in her organisation," she said. "She met everybody personally beforehand so that there was a rapport, and it never appeared to be any trouble to her.
"As soon as people found out several rang back and said it can't be true. She was brilliant at building relationships into friendships and she helped all of us revitalise our energies so that we have helped over 1,326 people, including children, this year."
"She set it up, the least the rest of us can do, as a tribute to her, is make sure it goes from strength to strength."
Penzance Food Bank's next meeting is on January 3, 2013. It opens every Thursday from 9am to noon on the Treneere Estate. For more information phone 07950 159841.
