Nearly 200 Shropshire families helped by food banks
Almost 200 vulnerable families received food for three days in Shropshire in the last year, thanks to donations gathered at the Midcounties Co-operative Food stores.
Colleagues and shoppers donated more than 7,700 food items and supplies last year – providing enough food to feed 193 families.
Demand for food parcels has risen for the ninth year in a row, according to information on UK food bank use, which was compiled by the Trussell Trust, Britain’s biggest food bank network. It reportedly gave out a record 1.2m food parcels to families and individuals in need in 2016-17.
Every time a family is referred to a food bank, they are given a food parcel with enough to feed them for three days. More than 2,200 individuals benefited from receiving family food parcels from food banks in The Trussell Trust network in Shropshire last year.
One in five of the UK population lives below the poverty line.
It is for this reason that The Midcounties Co-operative has chosen to support food banks.
It forms part of The Midcounties Co-operative’s regional communities strategy, which sees members and colleagues come together to provide support for community groups through volunteering and fundraising initiatives.
Toilet rolls, tea and coffee, toothpaste, washing powder, shampoo, tinned potatoes, orange juice, jam and can openers, are on the list of the most helpful things you can donate to your local food bank.
Mark Kennedy, leadership team ambassador at The Midcounties Co-operative in Shrewsbury, said: “It is so important to contribute to food banks as, unfortunately, they are being used more and more.
“Community is so important to The Midcounties and being able to make a positive impact locally is fantastic. We’re happy to have been able to help our members and customers donate and want to say a big thank you to them for giving so generously.”
Samantha Stapley, head of operations for England at The Trussell Trust, said: “No-one should go hungry and we’re working hard to address the reasons why people need food banks in the long term.
“While we try to tackle the underlying issues that are leaving people without enough money to put food on the table, volunteers in food banks are ensuring that everyone referred for emergency food receives vital support, so your donations really do make a difference.
“This practical, community-led response is stopping people going to bed hungry, and it’s only with local people’s support that this is possible, so thank you.”
