Rees-mogg and food banks

To The Guardian

The Guardian’s headline concerning Mr Rees-mogg’s comments on food banks was misleading. It quoted his use of the word “uplifting” in the context of the increased use of food banks, when in fact he was referring to the actions of the food bank volunteers. His latter assertion that the state may not always be able to help people make ends meet is a controversial opinion, though a perfectly valid one. However, to describe charitable work as uplifting is not to praise the cause, just as one would not be applauding the earthquake were one to praise the human response. Jake Kirner, Epping, Essex

To The Guardian

I volunteer in my local Trussell Trust food bank and, like Jacob Rees-mogg, I am a practising Roman Catholic. However, unlike Rees-mogg, I do not find my experiences there to be “uplifting”. Invariably, our clients (many of whom are on the receiving end of punitive benefits sanctions issued by public agencies) come to us as a last resort so that they may at least have some food for themselves and their families. Our clients have little choice over the food we provide, which is a mixture of tinned and packet food only. No fresh food is provided. Many of them, despite our best efforts, find the whole experience humiliating and distressing and, for many of my colleagues and myself, rather than being uplifted, we finish our shift deeply upset at hearing first-hand the experiences of so many of our clients.

I agree with Rees-mogg that “the state cannot do everything”. But the very basics that a civilised state can and should do is to provide the means for all of its citizens to obtain sufficient and appropriate food for themselves and their families. Eamonn Mccusker, Downham Market, Norfolk