Food bank desperate for help

The Craven Arms food bank saw a rise in people asking for help just before the Easter holidays as parents worried about how to feed their families without school dinners helping during the day.

It said benefit problems also contributed to more food parcels being issued.

Now the project has found itself without money to buy food to top up that donated by the public.

Other food banks in the area say they have had an unprecedented rise in requests for help.

Between January and March, Ludlow Food Bank gave out 117 parcels to people in need.

Craven Arms food bank is based at St Andrews Community Church in the town.

As well as giving out food from the church to eligible people with food vouchers on Tuesday mornings from 10am to noon, it also works with the social services team at the Gateway, Craven Arms, which delivers parcels in the community.

One of the organisers, Julia Gell, said volunteers had to buy certain staple goods from the food bank budget to add to the groceries that were donated.

"On Tuesday I did a shop and we have now run out of money," she said.

"Our church will underwrite what we need but we would appreciate help from the community."

"We are not a big food bank and, with the help of two local credit unions here, people are able to manage their money."

"We had a run on vouchers before Easter as we did before the Christmas holidays. They included a large family that was struggling with mistakes over their benefits. The father works but still needs a helping hand with benefits."

Mrs Gell said the food bank would welcome donations both of money and of food.

"We have wonderful support from local churches and the community but we could really do with a boost at the moment."

She said that money and food could be handed in at St Andrews.

"We can not accept fresh food or food that is out of date," she said.

The most useful food donations include tinned meat and fish, tinned vegetables and fruit, custard and rice pudding.

"Pasta and pasta sauces are very popular as they go a long way for families and we always need cereals, UHT milk and tea," Mrs Gell said.

Ruth Davis, co-ordinator of the Ludlow food bank, said the figures for the town were shocking.

Last year the food hub handed out its 117th parcel in June and in 2015 the food hub did not reach that figure until November.

"We are seeing so many people with a delay in getting their Universal Credit benefit," Ruth said.

"It takes so long to get it sorted out and there is a five week wait for the first payment. Although you can have an advance, it means you will be paying it off for the next year. People don't want to take it because they know they know it's going to put them into debt."

Other reasons for claiming food parcels included homelessness, financial difficulties and health issues.

Despite the huge demand, Ruth said the food bank is coping well thanks to generous donations.