Harlow Foodbank feeds 2,021 people in crisis

Up to the end of November 2010 Harlow Foodbank has given out food to 2,021 (1,246 adults & 775 children) people in crisis since it opened in April 2009. The foodbank collects donated food from its partners in Harlow and the surrounding area, which includes 43 churches, 33 front-line care professionals, 23 schools, 3 supermarkets (ASDA, Sainsbury's & Tesco's) and LOKnSTORE who provide FREE extra storage space. This year so far the foodbank has received and collected over 16 tonnes of donated food from its partners and from local people who have a heart for their neighbour. Gary Knott, Director of Community Services for the foodbank commented "We are seeing more and more families, couples and individuals using our service as they find themselves in crisis, often through no fault of their own. Client referrals this year have risen by 100% compared to the same period last year and we would like to sincerely thank our partner organisations and the people of Harlow for helping us to feed everyone who is hungry and in need of support from the foodbank"

During December local supermarkets ASDA, Sainsbury's and Tesco's have allowed the foodbank to organise extra food collection days in their stores and this has been a great success bringing in another 200 crates of donated food from their customers. Gary Knott says: 'Sometimes people are surprised by the need for emergency food locally, but hidden hunger is a real problem in the UK. Behind closed doors there are families who would be forced to send their children to bed hungry tonight if the foodbank was not here to help. We see families everyday who are so grateful for a simple foodbox and we are delighted that the local community has been so supportive, enabling the foodbank to feed 2,021 people since we opened in April last year.''

Reasons for referrals to Harlow foodbank include: Benefit Delay (42%), Low Income (11%), Homeless (11%), Benefit Cuts (7%), Refused Crisis Loan (6%), Sickness (6%), Debt (5%), Unemployed (4%), Other (4%), Domestic Violence (3%) and Delayed Wages (1%)

APPEAL – We still need a large Harlow based warehouse and if you can help please ring the MRCT office on 01279 724515

• People wishing to donate food to the Harlow Foodbank should contact Gary Knott on 01279 724515 or 07734 128430

• Foodbanks actively involve the local community in helping those in crisis in their midst.

• Clients are referred to Harlow foodbank by frontline care professionals who are best positioned to identify people in crisis. Care professionals issue their client with a foodbank voucher which can be redeemed for three days of emergency food.

• Foodbanks also provide signposting to agencies that are able to help provide longer term solutions to any problems, for example, debt counselling.

• Clients are referred to foodbanks for a huge variety of reasons, including: redundancy, benefit delay, unemployment, illness, debt, an unexpected bill, or bereavement. Most people who use the foodbank are not homeless.

• 13 million people in the UK are living on the poverty line according to government statistics.
• 
  
• For more information visit: www.mrct.org.uk/foodbank