‘Undercover report on food banks was mean’

Charity’s appeal after £18,000 of groceries given away in three months

Canterbury Food Bank urgently needs more stock after giving away £18,000 worth of groceries to needy families in just three months.

That is the same amount as the charity dished out in the last six months of 2013, which director Chrissie Barr says indicates the increasing plight facing hard-up families and individuals.

But Mrs Barr says she is “dismayed and disappointed” by the recent investigation into food banks by the Mail on Sunday.

The newspaper sent in an undercover reporter to investigate food banks run by the Trussell Trust in major cities.

It alleged many people were getting handouts by lying about their circumstances and making repeated visits.

But Canterbury Food Bank is an independent charity, not connected to the Trussell Trust.

It was started by Mrs Barr and friend Amy Hodgson and is the Kentish Gazette’s charity of the year.

She insists those seeking help are always referred to the charity by agencies such as Citizens Advice Bureau or social services.

She said: “I think it was a pretty mean article by the Mail given the huge amount of time and effort volunteers put in.

“There will always be those who abuse the system and get away with it, but the vast majority of cases are deserving. For most of them having to come to a food bank for help is embarrassing and nerve-racking. “We do our utmost to ensure they are genuine cases and after the third time they receive a food parcel, we start to ask more questions about their circumstances. Often it can simply be a delay in getting their benefits.”

But Mrs Barr revealed the charity recently had to spend £400 on buying food because of rising demand and low stock.

She said: “We urgently need non-perishable foods like pasta, rice, sugar, longlife milk and tins of meat, beans, vegetables and fruit.”

A donation will be made to the charity from the proceeds of the KM Big Quiz in Canterbury tomorrow (Friday) evening.

For more information about the charity or to make a donation visit www.canterburyfoodbank.org

Food Bank volunteers busy making up parcels for clients

Picture: Chris Davey FM3117832 Callum Whyte and Oliver Ulldemolins who ran a cake stall in aid of Canterbury Food Bank

Canterbury Food Bank founder Chrissie Barr – “the vast majority of people seeking help from us are deserving”