Woodley Food Bank seeks help

VOLUNTEERS at Woodley Food Bank are seeking donations, after food bank usage across the UK has continued to rise.

The Food Bank, which serves those in need in Earley, Lower Earley, and Twyford, has reached out for donations because stocks are running low.

Items such as toilet roll, tinned vegetables, sugar, and coffee are in need of restocking.

Donations can be made at Waitrose in Woodley, Asda in Lower Earley, Woodley Library, the Oakwood Centre, and at the food bank at Emmanuel Church.

Richard Davis, Woodley Food

Bank’s coordinator, said: “[We are] still supporting people who lost their jobs or struggled with income shortages under the furlough scheme as well as those testing positive and isolating.

“During the course of the pandemic we had tremendous support from the community, with both food and monetary donations.”

The effects of the pandemic have led to even more difficult financial situations for some, as well as availability issues for some necessary items.

Mr Davis explained that the continued rise in cost of living will exacerbate the reliance on food banks.

“We’re seeing an increase in people saying they are really struggling and we know many more will be pushed to the limit when their gas bills go up,” he added.

While food bank usage has been rising continuously, the Trussell Trust’s figures show that the number of emergency food parcels distributed has more than doubled across the UK since 2010.

The demand has increased even further in the South East, where usage jumped to 300% of 2010/2011 levels.