Tinned meals are bill-busting staple
Hope Kitchen is packing more tinned meals in its food parcels to help keep fuel bills down, writes Kathie Griffiths.
Canned food is becoming even more of a staple than ever before in parcels for some, says service manager Catriona Petit.
‘We are having a lot more people coming to us who are having problems trying to keep up with their energy bills and this is just the start of it. It will get worse.’
She added: ‘We are having to think about this when we are giving out food parcels, including things that can be quick to cook and take just a couple of minutes rather than longer. Something to pop in the microwave or better, and cheaper, on the hob just for a couple of minutes.’
The charity is still giving out other foods such as vegetables and encourages a healthy diet, but tinned meals, beans, pasta, and pasta sauces are in big demand.
Anyone making donations of food to the charity is being asked to include quick and easy-to-heat items.
Hope Kitchen can also point people in the right direction to get help with paying bills if they have a shortfall in income or are having money worries.
‘There is help. It’s important we let people know that,’ said Catriona.
Included in Hope’s food parcels are step-by-step leaflets on how to tackle financial worries and get help. The leaflets have been designed by the Independent Food Aid Network in partnership with Argyll & Bute Community Food Forum and include useful contacts.
Also mentioned in those leaflets is ALIenergy, an advice service that includes free home visits to help cut fuel costs. To find out more about that service, you can call 01631 565183 or email enquiries@alienergy. org.uk.
Hundreds of people have signed a petition so far, launched by Oban dad Murdo MacKenzie, calling for action from Prime Minister Boris Johnson to intervene on cost of living and energy price hikes. You can find it here www.change.org/p/ boris-johnson-government-to-intervene-on-crazy-energy-price-hikes.