After another busy week in the Foodbank, this weeks news item looks at why Foodbank usage is busy during the current pandemic and where the food comes from to meet this need.
The Trussell Trust (https://www.trusselltrust.org/2020/06/03/food-banks-busiest-month/) reports an 89% increase in the need for emergency food parcels during April 2020 compared to the same month last year, including a 107% rise in parcels given to children.
This has, to a large extent, been created as a result of the lockdown made necessary by Coronavirus. Many people, who previously just managed, have through loss of employment, found themselves in a situation where they are unable to pay for the food they need. 48% of the increase in emergency food distributed from food banks is due to people reporting a fall in income from work or benefits. 11% is because of sickness.
Many families will eventually be supported by Universal Credit but there is a five-week time lag between the point an application for Universal Credit is made and when it is received (https://www.trusselltrust.org/five-weeks-too-long/).
At the beginning of May the BBC reported that nationwide Universal Credit claims were running at six times the normal rate (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-52536210).
The graph below shows the local growth in the number of people applying for Universal Credit.
Given these figures, it is not surprising that the Foodbank has seen increased levels of activity since March,
Fortunately, whilst demand for food from the Foodbank has increased, there has also been an increase in supply. The table below gives a list of donations between March and May.
| Principal Supermarket/ Community Donations | Wt. | Start Date | Duration |
| Sainsbury (Oswestry) Permanent Collection Point (customer donations) | 1528.25kg | On going | 13 weeks |
| Tesco (Ellesmere) Permanent Collection Point (customer donations) | 717.98kg | On going | 13 weeks |
| Tesco Covid-19 weekly donation from warehouse | 2587.20kg | Since 17th April | 6 weeks |
| Morrisons Covid-19 weekly donation from warehouse | 903.60kg | Since 18th March | 10 weeks |
| St Oswald’s Community Collection Point | 674.35kg | Since 23rd April | 5 weeks |
| Trefonen Village Shop and Community Collection | 170.45kg | Since 23rd March | 11 weeks |
| Kinnerley and Knockin Community Collection | 318.55kg | Since 23rd March | 11 weeks |
| Stans Supermarket Community Collection | 117.70kg | Since 14th April | 7 weeks |
| ALDI back of store | 114kg | On-going | 13 weeks |
| Boots Customer Toiletries Collection | 29.05kg | On-going | 13 weeks |
The Foodbank is grateful for all these donations which have enabled it to provide food parcels to families and individuals in need in the Oswestry and Borders area.