Credit crunch increases demand at foodbank charity (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Credit crunch increases demand at foodbank charity

4:30pm Tuesday 29th July 2008 in Swindon By Gazette Reporter

Charity Swindon Foodbank has seen a significant rise in the number of people needing emergency food over the last month.

A total of 10 per cent more people are coming to the charity and requesting food as they literally have almost nothing in their cupboards at home. Foodbank gives people emergency food for three to four days after something has suddenly changed in their life such as a redundancy, serious illness or being forced to leave their homes.

As a result of the credit crunch, Swindon Foodbank's stock is at its lowest level since it began in 2005 and for the charity to continue to meet the demand for its services, urgent action is required.

Swindon Foodbank is holding an extra collection at ASDA Wall-Mart on Saturday from 9.30 am till 4.30 pm.

Swindon Foodbank volunteers will be highly visible in bright yellow jackets. They will answer questions and can supply shoppers with a list of items that people in crisis need.

Even if shoppers only contribute one item, their support will help to keep the needy people in Swindon fed and will give them one less thing to worry about while they solve other problems.

Just this week Foodbank gave supplies to a 17 year old girl who had just been kicked out her home; the girl now has a place to live and enough food to sustain her until something else is sorted out.

Very often, it takes longer than expected for social security benefit applications to be processed and Swindon Foodbank steps into the gap to tide people over.

Foodbank is currently helping a growing number of local builders and decorators who have been hardest hit by the big slowdown in the building trade. They are struggling to find work as the country's largest house builders postpone building projects because it has become harder for house-buyers to secure mortgages in the current financial climate.

Even more worrying is the fact that Foodbank are supplying people with food who are normally able to put food on the table.

Project Manager Richard Belsham would like to thank the people of Swindon for their generosity to the Foodbank since it opened in December 2005.

At the Swindon Foodbank Black and White Charity Ball earlier this year, over £3,600 was raised to go towards the charity's running costs. He said: "The people of Swindon have been fantastic in their donations of food since the project began. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all who have supported us and to express our continued amazement at the generosity of our local community who are prepared to stand with Swindon people in crisis.

"As a town, economically Swindon is not as hard-hit as some places, however, the need for Foodbank's intervention is likely to increase unless the economy picks up very soon."

Anyone in need can go to www.swindonfoodbank.co.uk or call Richard Belsham on 07932 108732