More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
The Medway Messenger has teamed up with a crisis charity to help families in need this Christmas.
Our 2013 festive appeal is supporting Medway Foodbank to stop people going hungry.
Every day in the Towns there are people struggling to put food on the table. It could be due to redundancy, illness, benefit delay, family breakdown or simply an unexpected bill.
Medway Foodbank is there to help when people need it most. Through its six drop-in centres it provides emergency food boxes to feed families for three days.
Aince launching in December 2011, Medway Foodbank has fed more than 4,000 people including more than 1,000 children. And the number is steadily growing. Last month, it helped just over 200 adults and 91 children.
The Trussell Trust, which runs food banks, has reported a 21% rise in the number of people who said they did not have enough money for food because of problems with benefits. Welfare reforms were introduced in April.
More families are expected to turn to the charity during the winter months as they face rising food costs and struggle to pay higher fuel bills.
Foodbank coordinator Helen Gallagher said people often go to the centres saying they have to make the choice between paying the rent, paying for fuel or buying food.
She added: “There is much more pressure on people in the winter. The increase in fuel prices is really going to make it worse for people.”
Families are referred to the charity by health centres, social workers, schools and housing associations.
They are given a voucher which they can exchange for a food parcel containing pasta, beans, milk, cereal and other every day essentials.
Helen said: “We are a crisis service. By the time people come to us after being referred from a frontline service, things are usually pretty desperate.
"We have had people walk for miles to get to a centre when they need help.
“One of the most common reasons people come to us is because of benefit delays.
“One of the saddest things we see is people who haven’t received a letter because they have been forced to move or stay with a friend and they have been sanctioned so their benefits are stopped.
“The Trussell Trust estimate that if someone loses their job it would take just three months for them to need the help of a foodbank. So anyone is only three months away from needing our help.”
When and where you can donate
If your school, club or business would like to hold a foodbank collection to support the Medway Messenger’s Christmas appeal, contact the newsroom on 01634 227828 or email medwaymessenger@thekmgroup.co.uk
