News
Shropshire Star reports on Foodbank AGM
26th June 2023
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See the article by David Tooley at https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/cost-of-living/2023/06/23/foodbank-finances-under-strain-as-demand-remains-high-and-products-fly-off-the-shelves/
A food bank in north Shropshire now has to buy more than half of the food it hands out to needy people as demands on its services grow.
Oswestry and Borders Foodbank – a part of the national Trussell Trust network – says a part of that is because some of its backers are deciding to give regular financial donations instead of food and strengthening their commitment.
But Liz Jermy, the manager of the food bank said: “Demand is high. We are helping between 60 and 80 families each week.
“The speed at which stock is going off the shelves is astonishing and it is putting pressure on both our warehouse and our financial resources. The stores in our warehouse are going down at a rate of knots and we are grateful to all our donors.”
Last year they spent £31,000 on food.
Ms Jermy said an astonishing 61 tonnes of food has been delivered to 6,904 people since April 2022. People have to get a voucher after being referred to the food bank from other agencies.
A food parcel provides three days of nutritionally balanced, non-perishable food. They are usually able to supply basic toiletries, nappies and sometimes food for cats or dogs.
“It is not an issue of food poverty any more,” she said. “It is an issue of general hardship which has become the normality for people. Universal Credit does not cover people’s essentials any more.”
Oswestry and Borders Foodbank opened in 2011 and has now linked up with Citizens Advice which can refer people to the service it offers. That means people can now get advice on budgeting and to make sure they are receiving every penny they are entitled to.
They have also linked with the mental health charity Mind and the single parent charity Gingerbread to offer more specialist support to people who need it.
The food bank is now supported by donation points at nine supermarkets in the area including Morrisons with its buy-a-bag scheme and the independent store Stan’s in St Martins.
Last year approximately 21 per cent of food was purchased using money donated to the food bank, now that has leapt to 51 per cent.
Donations made at supermarkets makes up 37 per cent of the food that is coming into the food bank’s stores, and 51 per cent is now brought by purchasing. Direct food donations from churches has dropped to six per cent as people decide to sign up to standing orders.
Another three per cent take food direct to the food bank at 56 Beatrice Street, Oswestry, which is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 11am to 2pm.