The Isle of Wight Foodbank provided a total of 5,067 emergency food parcels to local people between April 2018 and March 2019, official figures have revealed.
Each emergency food parcel consists of 3 days’ food. Of the staggering number handed out across the Island over the past 12 months, some 1,926 parcels went to children.
The local foodbank’s figures feed into a larger national picture with a record increase in foodbank use across the UK. The Isle of Wight Foodbank is backing calls from the Trussell Trust to ensure the benefits system is able to protect people from poverty.
There has been a 4% increase in the number of parcels handed out over same period in 2017-2018. The charity believes the local increase is due to people struggling with continued issues with benefit payments and the usual issues around seasonal work on the island.
Hannah King, Manager of Isle of Wight Foodbank said:
“Until we reach a future where food banks are no longer needed, we’ll continue to provide vital support when it matters most. We’re dedicated to ensuring that people in our community without enough money for food are able to access emergency support.
“Our vital work in the community has only been possible in the last year because of the incredible generosity shown by local people in donating food, time and funds. Thank you.”
The running costs for the foodbank are raised locally to enable them to continue their work. Costs include warehouse space, to sort and stock donated food, a van to pick up donated food and deliver to distribution centres, and other overheads like utilities and insurances.
The foodbank welcomes any new offers of help with funding – local businesses, organisations and individuals interested in supporting the food bank’s work can find out more at www.isleofwight.foodbank.org.uk.
https://www.eurofoodbank.org/
BLESS THEM ALL THIS WILL CONTINUE UNTILL THE UK GOV STOP GIVING STUPID AMOUNTS OF TAXPAYERS MONEY TO FORIEN AID . AFRICA ,SYRIA INDIA ETC ARE NOT OUR PROBLEM SOD EM ALL WE NEED TO SERIOUSLEY SORT OUR OWN STARVING ,HOMELESS FAMILYS ,ETC OUT FIRST CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME . ALL THEASE CELEBS .FOOTBALL PLAYERS DOING THE HELP THE WHATEVER ,WHOEVER AND THE TOSSER ROYALS ,PUT YOUR HAND IN YOUR POCKETS FIRST MUPPETTS
you do realise that if the government gave nothing in crisis relief, humanitarian aid or development aid to other countries and gave it all to low income individuals after housing costs in the Uk, it would equate to about £20 a week extra per person.
this country, each year, spends £154 billion on Healthcare, £110 billion on welfare, £31 billion on protection (police, prisons etc). That is £295 billion on looking after UK citizens and that isn’t even half the amount spent overall. It spends about 70p out of every £100 made in this country on foreign aid, which is crisis aid, humanitarian aid and development aid.
The amount given away seems large at £13.4 billion, however, when viewed against what isn’t given away, it is a small percentage. A decent proportion of aid is in uk currency, meaning those getting it, must spend it on uk based goods and services,
which supports those working in this country.
So what happens on day 4?