Foodbank demand at highest level recorded

EXETER Foodbank has this month experienced one of its busiest weeks yet as the cost of living crisis continues, seeing demand for its service rise by 130 per cent compared with the same week in September 2021.

The Christian charity which provides emergency food to local people in crisis says it is not expecting demand to decrease and has thanked all those who continue to make donations to ensure its growing number of clients are able to eat and have a good meal.

The foodbank reported that during August, nearly 1,000 looked up Exeter Foodbank on Google searches – a 22 per cent increase compared with the previous month. It also saw visits to its website rise by 24 per cent.

In a post on its Facebook page on Wednesday, September 7, it said: “Today was (apart from just before Christmas) probably the busiest Wednesday that we have ever seen.”

Last week it added: “You will know that we no longer give numbers of clients served on our social media. This is because our clients are people – not numbers.

“But what we are prepared to share is that last week, compared to the corresponding week in September 2021, saw an increase in clients served of 130 per cent. Thank you for your donations.”

It added: “God bless and thank you Exeter because the cupboard at the foodbank has never been empty through all of these extraordinary times. We think that you are wonderful.”

In August, Exeter Foodbank gave out 7.1 tons of food and received 7.4 tons of donations. The charity in now creating an Exeter Foodbank Living Room as a place to find support and help in a crisis.