Barnsley Foodbank Partnership is calling on the local community to donate much needed items to support people facing hardship.
Since opening in 2013, Barnsley Foodbank Partnership has provided vital emergency support to local people facing hardship. Between January 2022 – January 2023, the food bank gave out food parcels to 10,917 individuals.
The food bank is now appealing to the people of Barnsley to urgently donate much needed items to ensure they can continue to offer this crucial support. Their most needed items at the moment include: rice pudding, tinned fruit, tinned or instant potatoes, gravy granules, juice and long-life milk.
A typical emergency food parcel consists of items such as cereal, tinned fruit and vegetables, canned meat and fish, tea, coffee, biscuits, UHT milk, pasta and rice amongst other items. A food parcel is designed to last a household for three days.
A Barnsley resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, spoke about how they were reliant on Barnsley Foodbank Partnership when they were in a complete crisis.
Shelby* is a single parent who struggles to pay the ever rising bill costs she faces. The Covid-19 pandemic may have brought some extra booster payments, but they have now stopped and the Cost of Living Crisis is meaning Shelby* is struggling to make ends meet. She said it was a ‘Godsend’ receiving a food parcel, giving her and the children something to ‘keep them going’ until she could manage her finances better. Shelby* says she appreciated the chat she had when picking up her food parcel, complimenting volunteer Carol on her friendly approach. She says Carol treated her with respect, kindness, dignity and encouragement.
Barnsley Foodbank Partnership relies on the generosity of the Barnsley community, but the need for their support in the local community is greater than ever.
Georgina Arnold, Communications Officer at Barnsley Foodbank Partnership said:
“We want to reach a future where our work isn’t needed, a future where everyone can afford the essentials. Until that point, we need to ensure we can continue to provide vital support to local people while that help is still needed. In recent months, the need for emergency food parcels is outstripping the number of donations we are receiving. We will do our best to continue to support the people who need us in Barnsley.
“Everyone at Barnsley Foodbank Partnership is grateful to the community for their continuous generosity and we know that as we get further into 2023, the community will once again rally around us.”
A Barnsley resident, who recently provided the food bank with a large donation at their monthly food drive, said:
“It was only last year that I found myself needing access to a food bank as I was experiencing crisis. I’ve managed to come through the other side now and give something back.
If anyone would like to support the food bank, or would like to find out more information about what they do, click here.
*Name changed to protect anonymity.
