The food bank launched its new “Sponsor a Neighbour” campaign last month, encouraging the community to donate as little as £2.50 a week. The fundraising team hopes to raise £40,000 to help the huge number of locals in need of support. From September 2023 to October 2024 alone, this was 1,455 different households, totalling 2,023 adults and 767 children.
“The need for the new fundraising campaign comes from a reduction in donations across the board — from supermarkets, organisations and individuals,” volunteer Social Media Manager Audrey Plastiras-Phillips explained. “This is due to a range of reasons, like the cost of living crisis and the fact that there are more food banks now, so donations are split between us all.”
Food price increases have also had a huge impact, as the food bank purchases fresh and tinned fruit and vegetables, milk, eggs, beans, pasta, and rice.
“It’s so important that we can continue to buy these items, as we want to provide our guests with healthy and balanced diets. Especially as we help feed so many children. Our guests are already experiencing highly stressful situations caused by food insecurity, like having to choose between eating and putting the heating on. So we want to minimise the impact on their health through nutritious food too,” volunteer Graphic Designer Ruby Padfield told me.
The food bank also aims to tackle hygiene poverty, buying essentials like bleach and washing up liquid for guests.
Repeat donations set up through the fundraising page enable the food bank to provide these key items every week.
Donate today and help build a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow. Visit our fundraising page for more information.
Grace Plastiras-Phillips
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