SHOCKING statistics show Droitwich Spa Foodbank has given out food parcels to 1,630 people in the last year, up 420 on the year before.
Worryingly 504 of those receiving packages were children, also an increase of around 25 per cent on last year.
Droitwich Spa Foodbank is a member of the Trussell Trust network of foodbanks. The charity has reported an increase nationwide on the dependency of the foodbanks.
The Trussell Trust attributes the dramatic increase to a number of factors, including benefit payment issues, zero-hour contracts, families receiving low incomes and the impact caused by the introduction of Universal Credit.
Having no JobCentre in the town and the withdrawal of the offices of one of the housing associations has also added to the burden as people have to travel to Worcester to receive help and support and to apply for benefits.
The Foodbank works hard to stop people from going hungry, raises awareness of the issues and also carries out crucial research in a bid to find out the extent of the problems.
Dave Adams, Droitwich Spa Foodbank manager, said: “We don’t want to be here forever.
“No-one in the Droitwich area should need a foodbank’s help and we want to see an end to local people using emergency food at all.
“It doesn’t have to be this way – with a benefits system that catches people before they fall into a crisis and secure work which provides people with enough money to cover the cost of essentials this is possible.
“But until that time we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most.”
Mary Stanbury, Drotiwich Spa Foodbank centre leader, said: “I think the perception of the public is it is only people on benefits who receive parcels but that is not the case.
“Most of the people who receive packages from foodbanks these days are working but are on very low incomes.
“People do not think a nice town like Droitwich needs a foodbank.
“There is a misconception that everybody living here has a lot of money, but that is not the case.”
There are running costs of the foodbank which are met locally and the foodbank welcomes any new offers of funding from local businesses, individuals and organisations.
Visit droitwichspa.foodbank.org.uk to donate or offer help.
