More Shropshire families forced to turn to foodbanks
More people will turn to charity to feed themselves this winter due to increasing energy prices, it has been warned.
Members of Whitchurch Foodbank say they expect to see a sharp rise in the number of people referred to them as cold nights creep in and Christmas gets closer.
Volunteer Alan Scutt described the time of year as a "double blow" for people struggling on low incomes.
He said: "I expect a lot more people to be making use of our foodbank as well as all the others that have been set up nationally.
"We are heading into the most difficult time of the year. It is the time of year when children are off school which means many youngsters won't be getting their school meals.
"Then it's the old adage of heating or eating. For some people a genuine choice has to be made whether to buy food or put the heating on.
"We all know energy prices are rising, so life is going to be even more of a struggle for people already struggling.
"Now it's getting colder more and more people will choose heat over food, it's a worrying time."
Foodbanks are being run in towns such as Shrewsbury, Telford, Oswestry, Market Drayton and Ludlow. A new foodbank has recently opened in Weston Rhyn to meet demand and another is due to be launched in Newport in the coming weeks.
Whitchurch Foodbank, which has only been open for a month, has already handed out more than half a tonne of food to 32 people from the town and surrounding area.
To obtain food from the charity people have to be referred by a professional such as a doctor, teacher or midwife.
Now Mr Scutt is asking people to donate food when the organisation holds a collection at the town's Tesco supermarket, in White Lion Meadow, on November 29 and 30.
He said: "We have had a very successful start and I'm very proud to say we have helped 32 people.
"We have had tremendous support from our volunteers and we invited Owen Paterson to come and have a look around to show him exactly what goes on.
"He was very impressed and showed a great interest and was keen to find out more because food banks are raised a lot inside the House.
The foodbank, run in partnership with the Trussell Trust, operates from Bargates Hall, next to St Alkmund's Church on Tuesday and Friday from 9.30am to 11.30am.
E-mail acscutt@btinternet.com
