Food bank use across Shropshire and Mid Wales soars
The number of people visiting food banks has soared as more are forced to rely on them to feed their families.
People running food banks across Shropshire and Mid Wales say an increasing number of families and people in need have been turning to the them – even those in stable jobs.
Market Drayton food bank recently celebrated its three-year milestone after helping almost 3,000 people with its service.
Food bank manager Helen McSherry said it was all thanks to donations from local people.
She said: "This Christmas period has been busier than last year. It has been very busy in the last week. We have been rushed off our feet.
"Over the week we have fed more than 100 people. This is a very busy period.
"There have been a lot of new faces we have been helping and it has been a mixture of people using the food bank including single people and large families.
"It is mainly people on a lower income who are relying on us.
"The top three reasons for needing to use the food bank are low income, benefit delays and debt."
Ms McSherry said that the winter was a particularly hard time for some people, and the food bank needed donations to make sure it was well stocked.
She added: "The community has been great in supporting us. Last week we had 540 kilos of food donated to us by Grove School in Market Drayton. It was so generous and has really helped us ahead of such a busy week. Thank you to everyone.
"We still need more donations and particularly need every day food like meats, fruits, vegetables and juice."
Since the start of the year Market Drayton food bank has given out approximately eight tonnes of food.
A total of 420 vouchers have been exchanged for food parcels, feeding just under 1,000 people.
And Ms McSherry said since January 1 approximately 10 tonnes of food has been donated by the local people of Market Drayton and surrounding area.
Shrewsbury's food bank was also one of many to have seen an increase in the number of people seeking help in the run-up to Christmas.
Karen Williams, project leader at 360 Journey to Work, part of Food Bank Plus in Shrewsbury, said the organisation had provided food for 124 families throughout December.
Liz Bird, co-ordinator of the Bridgnorth food bank, said she thinks more people will be forced to rely on them each year.
