THE organisers of the local food bank have said that they are still giving out more food than they receive through donations, which they say can be attributed to the rising cost of living.
The Westbury Area Network (WAN), the organisation that runs the foodbank and community fridge in Westbury, say they are hearing from more people who are having to choose between paying their bills or eating.
The foodbank received a big boost last month as they received 50% more donations than usual, but volunteers at the organisation say the demand will likely increase as the cost-of-living rises.
Gemma Hartigan of WAN says, “Each week, we are hearing from more and more people who are struggling to make ends meet and who quite literally are faced with a choice between paying their bills or eating.
“Recipients of food bank parcels are referred to us from a variety of organisations including Crosspoint, local churches, schools, the White Horse Medical Centre and various Wiltshire Council agencies and we do our best to make sure that anyone who might need our help knows where and how to access support. We still worry that at this challenging time, there are vulnerable people slipping through the net, so would encourage anyone who needs help to reach out to us.
“We recognise the current heightened worry surrounding the cost-of-living crisis, especially alongside the increase in energy bills in October, and we share those worries. We are very fortunate that the people of Westbury are so generous, with the success of our recent August tin appeal and Morrisons Community Champion Food Drive. However, we usually find on a monthly average, that we still give out more food than we receive, so it’s crucial for us to encourage ongoing regular donations wherever possible.
“August gave us a fantastic boost, but in July for example, 1073kg of food was donated to us or purchased via grants, while 1205kg was given out in food parcels. Whilst we speak to people every week about how much they are struggling to keep afloat, we also hear how much they appreciate the help that we can offer them. Sometimes, all they need is a little leg up to see them through a stressful time, and it’s fantastic that the generosity of the people of Westbury allow us to support them when they need it most.”
Where and what to donate
Gemma continued, “We ask all those who are able, to consider donating regularly via All Saints Church, Crosspoint or directly to us at Westbury Community Project. Our Facebook page is updated regularly to reflect the items most in need and details will appear in the White Horse News too. Even just a couple of tins added to a weekly shop could make a real difference to a vulnerable person or family.
“We are finding that due to increases in energy costs and concerns over being able to afford repairs to appliances, people are becoming more reliant on using microwaves. This is something we ask people to consider when donating to us, as microwaveable meals and ingredients are becoming more important than ever before, particularly with winter around the corner.
“As a charity, conversations are ongoing about how we can make our service more efficient, to ensure that we will continue to be available to help those most in need. We aim to attend local events to get the Westbury Area Network name out there, to ensure people know who to turn to when they need support and how people can help out through a range of volunteering opportunities. We also now have an online fundraising page for people to donate online towards the costs of purchasing much-needed items: www.givey.com/westburyareanetwork”
Help yourself to the community fridge
Gemma added, “We are finding that the Community Fridge usage has continued to increase, with record numbers visiting us in August. Some people are concerned that there is a stigma around using services such as the Community Fridge, but really it is for everyone to use, whether as a means of cutting down on household spending or to help tackle the problem of food waste. We continue to look for local businesses who wish to reduce landfill use by donating to us and invite anyone with a passion for addressing food waste to get in touch.”
For more information on supporting the food bank and community fridge, please contact www.westburyareanetwork.org or visit www.facebook.com/ WestburyAreaNetwork
To access the food parcels at the food bank you must first be referred to the organisation through either Crosspoint in the town centre, churches, schools, the White Horse Medical Centre, or through Wiltshire Council.
The Community Fridge, available to all, can be found at the Westbury Community Project on Eden Vale Road. For opening times please visit the website: www.westburyareanetwork.org
