Food banks still a social necessity
FOOD banks have been a necessary part of the scene in UK society for nearly 14 years, collecting and distributing food and non-food items to those in need.
Many supermarkets like Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Tesco are collection stations for these items.
Food banks then distributes to single persons and families requiring a square meal one day, three days or up to a week.
The Trussell Trust, One Can and Fair Share are the organisations that are at the heart of food bank provision, but many independent food banks also provide this service.
The Trussell Trust issues food to those claiming emergency food aid in exchange for a food voucher.
Those in need should visit their local Citizen Advice Bureau or GP to apply for this service.
Non-perishable foods in cans and non-food items are distributed from the food banks.
Volunteers in food banks give up their time to ensure that these services can operate effectively.
They are always seeking an extra pair of hands.
The Hillingdon Food Bank estimates one in five people in the population live below the poverty line and seek food bank assistance because benefit payments are delayed, claimants are ill or out of work.
Use of Hillingdon food banks has increased by 313%.
Hunger UK says that one in four parents skip meals due to a lack of money.
Thirteen per cent of adults often go without food for a day due to higher food bills.
There is a lack of government measures to track food insecurity.
A Labour MP has called for ‘a robust measurement of hunger in the UK.’
Of course, all of this leads to health and social consequences at a time when childhood obesity is on the rise.
It is thought that buying cheaper more calorific food is causing this as a result of higher food prices.
More than one million pensioners in the UK are going hungry because of the same factor of high food cost.
Potential volunteers should consult the following sites for further information:
The Trussell Trust at www. trusselltrust.org
One Can at onecantrust.org.uk Fair Share at fair share.org.uk Citizens Advice at www. citizensadvice.org.uk
Hillingdon Foodbank at hillingdon.foodbank.org.uk
Not since Victorian times have we witnessed such food poverty in a country which is ranked sixth most affluent in the world.
Our local and central government politicians have a duty to address this staggering problem. Ian Herne Hercies Road Hillingdon