Feeding the thousands
MORE NEED HELP THAN EVER
IT is a place without judgement that has helped thousands of those at their most vulnerable.
The Newcastle West End Foodbank is the biggest foodbank in the UK which is at the heart of the city’s community.
As thousands of people have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, demand for foodbanks has soared throughout 2020.
From April to September, 27,000 people have walked through its doors. By contrast in 2019 there were 33,000 service users in the whole year.
Hundreds of people queue in the freezing cold every week to collect food parcels in order to survive.
These are families forced to choose between heating their homes, or putting food on the table.
As a result, each month since the pandemic began has seen volunteers hand out over 23 tonnes of food.
Single mum-of-two, Sophia, whose name has been changed for her protection, lost her job as a restaurant manager as a result of the pandemic. As her world was turned upside down, she didn’t know where to turn and started to worry about her family’s future.
Sophia had never used a foodbank before and when she first stepped inside she said was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and shame at having to ask for help. The 40-year-old, who is now living on Universal Credit, said: “I can’t afford to buy food and I was beginning to grow concerned about what I was going to do.
“I’ve never been in this position before and never used a foodbank. I felt almost embarrassed about going and I felt so nervous walking in at first because I know people will need this more than me.
“I think it’s all about putting your pride to one side and reaching out for help when you need to. I want my kids to have normal meals like other kids and to not miss out in any way. I feel like I have almost let them down.
“But the foodbank is now a lifeline for me, I have been made to feel so welcome there. If it wasn’t for the West End Foodbank I would be stuck and wouldn’t have a clue what would have happened.”
As a result of the pandemic, the foodbank was forced to reduce its volunteers from hundreds to dozens.
Another casualty of the pandemic was the provision of hot meals for service users.
Carol Rowland, pathways, welfare and volunteer manager, said: “Demand is always scary. If we were anywhere else in the world we would be fearful, but because we are from the North East we don’t fear anything because our community and local businesses always support us and have never failed us yet.
“We see thousands of people every month, we always put out a request and get it fulfilled.
“People are incredibly brave, as it takes a lot to walk through that door. “We always have to remember that. “It is important for us to let them know that everything is going to be all right. We can’t solve everything, but we can give them dignity and respect.”
With the increased demand and coronavirus restrictions stopping fundraising events, the foodbank has been overwhelmed by support from the generous Newcastle community.
Among them is Bill Corran, who helped set up NUFC Fans Foodbank in 2016, which has helped to collect thousands of donations from football fans on match days.
But with match days being cancelled this year, 2020 has been a very different experience. He said: “A few weeks ago when I was at the foodbank, the number of people who were queuing outside in the cold was frightening. We shouldn’t need to have foodbanks in our communities in this country in the 21st century.
“Without match days being on, we’ve actually done better this year because we’ve had the help of hundreds and thousands of people, with every single one having good ideas to help such as selling memorabilia and season tickets.
“The power of football fans has engaged members of the community.”