Demand for foodbank soars over summer

Published 8 Jul 2012 06:30 0 Comments

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A FOODBANK needs more donations to help feed children over the summer holidays when they are not receiving free school dinners.

Bracknell Foodbank says it is expecting a rise in demand when children from low-income families, who are usually eligible for school dinner vouchers from the Government, are at home during the six-week break.

It was greatly helped by the generosity of News readers through our Christmas Toys and Tins appeal, but demand for its services has been growing.

Pat Hallett, who runs Bracknell Foodbank at Kerith Community Church with her husband Geoff, said: "The summer holidays are a key time for families because where children are used to free school meals, then they are on holiday, families find it very difficult to provide.

"Families are going to be really struggling this summer so we are expecting to be pushed.

"Our stocks are fairly low now, prior to Harvest Festival donations [in September]. We are encouraging people to give more and that is happening. People are very generous despite how touch things are."

The foodbank, part of a national network led by the Trussell Trust, has seen demand for its services surge since it opened in September 2009.

It is now helping about 200 people a month, who are usually referred by other agencies and given enough food to last them three days.

The foodbank is open at Kerith from noon-2pm on Mondays and noon-2.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.

However, donations can be dropped off at the Kerith Community Church, Church Road, Bracknell, in normal office hours throughout the week.

Mrs Hallett wants to hear from anyone who has a new food storage area, because its current one is not very accessible by vehicle and the charity is processing an increasingly large amount of food. Contact her via the Kerith on 01344 862699 if you can help.

See www.kerith.co.uk or www.facebook.com/BracknellFoodbank to find out more about the charity.

The foodbank is open at Kerith from noon-2pm on Mondays and noon-2.30pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.

It needs donations of:

Milk (UHT)

Cereal

Tinned soup

Fruit juice (long life)

Pasta sauces

Baked beans

Rice/sponge pudding (tinned)

Tomatoes (tinned)

Pasta/rice (500g)