The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Food bank in urgent plea
Record numbers of people in need of emergency supplies Factfile
An Aberdeen food bank is urgently appealing for donations after it noted a record-breaking rise in people queuing up for emergency supplies.
Last week, 179 people visited the CFine’s HQ on Polynernook Road for vital food parcels in just one day.
Dave Simmers, CEO of the social enterprise, said the number was “gobsmacking”, and more than double the usual daily demand.
He said: “Records have been broken. We usually distribute around 80 emergency parcels a day.
“Having 179 people come in last Wednesday was the highest number of emergency food parcels ever distributed – the second highest amount was 120 in 2017.
“It would be a nightmare if we didn’t have enough food for people who truly need it.
“In that case we would be forced to prioritise people, which would be terrible.
“We just cannot keep up with the current demand without extra help.”
CFine distributes more than 15,000 emergency food parcels annually.
Over the summer CFine, along with fellow foodbank charities Instant Neighbour and Cyrenians, were hit by an increase in demand due to the summer holidays.
During the period of shortage, CFine’s number of parcels being distributed each day rose from, on average, 60-80 each day to nearer 100.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Aberdeen is now home to 20 food banks, outnumbering all other Scottish cities.
In a leaflet issued about the upcoming Universal Credit, the city council has listed 20 groups where food parcels can be had.
Edinburgh has only six food banks listed online, although churches and other charities may also give out food packages.
The Universal Credit system is due to replace many existing benefits but has been criticised for the long delays in payments.
Mr Simmers added: “We are anticipating the case that Universal Credit will increase also demand.
“Across the country it could lead to increased household debt, the lowering of income and even more people needing to use foodbanks.”
A spokeswoman for the UK Government said: “The reasons why people use foodbanks are complex, so it’s wrong to link a rise to any one cause.
“Universal Credit is working for the vast majority who claim it. We’ve already made significant improvements to Universal Credit.
“We continue to spend around £90 billion a year supporting people who need it, including those who are out of work or on a low income.”
Universal Credit replaces six existing benefits – Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Donations of food and other items to CFine can be made at 2 Polynernook Road, Aberdeen. Does your head feel stuck and heavy? Are you suffering with frequent headaches or migraine? Is it too sore to move your head? Do you feel your shoulders tight and hunched up? Does your neck hurt in bed? Is your head and neck pain interfering with your sleep? Is your jaw and face aching? Does this make you feel old and ‘falling to bits’?