On Thursday 10th November, we released our stats for emergency food parcel distribution from April to September 2022, which shed light on the level of need for the Isle of Wight Foodbank in our local community.
The stark new figures reveal that we provided 2635 emergency food parcels to people who couldn’t afford the essentials on the Isle of Wight between April to September this year – 1152 of these went to children.
In addition to this, food banks across the Trussell Trust network provided 1.3 million emergency food parcels to people experiencing hunger between April to September this year – a record number for this six-month period – with almost half a million of these going to children.
This is a 33% increase from the same period in 2021/22, and a 52% increase from the same period in the pre-pandemic year of 2019/20.
This isn’t right and we can’t allow this to go on.
Together, with food banks across the Trussell Trust network, we’re calling on the government to act decisively to support people who are struggling.
The Budget announcement on Thursday 17th November is a critical opportunity for this and we will be looking to Rishi Sunak to act boldly to ensure that no one is forced to go without the essentials.
No one should need the support of food banks because everyone should have enough money to afford the essentials we all need to live.
But the cost of living crisis is now an emergency for people on low incomes and next year has the potential to be even worse.
That’s why your support is needed now more than ever.
As we face our busiest and toughest winter on record, we would be most grateful if you could: Please donate the following food or toiletries: Sponge puddings, long life fruit juice, squash, custard, pot noodles, breakfast bars, laundry detergent, shaving gel and men’s deodorant. This list is updated monthly. It can be found on our website or our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
You can pop these items into your local supermarket Isle of Wight Foodbank collection basket. Alternatively you can bring them straight to our warehouse in Love Lane, Cowes, PO31 7ET. Our office is open for donations between 9am – 2pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
We recognise how difficult times are right now, which is why we really appreciate all the support you can offer. Together, we can ensure help is here for everyone who needs it on the Isle of Wight, as we work towards a future where we can all live free from financial hardship.
Thank you for all that you’re doing.