SALISBURY Foodbank had its busiest month on record in January, in what it also expects to be its busiest ever year in which “many families will suffer”.

Earlier this week, the foodbank posted on social media saying it had had its busiest ever January, and the third busiest month on record, with “more food parcels distributed and more families helped than any previous January”.

It added: “Looks likely to be [a] very busy 2021 as COVID plays out. “We are working hard to be ready.”

Since then, it has been confirmed to the Journal that it was, in fact, its busiest month on record ever, with more than 550 people helped through the foodbank.

'It is vital we are supported with donations - in particular money'

Chairman of the Salisbury Foodbank trustees, John Pitt-Brooke, said: “This was a very busy month at the start of what we expect to be our busiest ever year.

“It looks like it will be a period of great economic uncertainty in Salisbury and many families will suffer.

“The Foodbank will have more and more to do, and it is vital we are supported with donations of food and in particular money. We look forward to the support of the whole community.”

The food parcels put together by the foodbank can go to single people, or families where there are adults and children.

The contents of a food parcel given out by Salisbury Foodbank

The contents of a food parcel given out by Salisbury Foodbank

From November 1, Salisbury’s Trussell Trust foodbank became an independent, fully funded charitable organisation known as Salisbury Foodbank.

The change was made to bring it in line with the other Trussell Trust foodbanks, which function as individual charitable units, with their own trustees and supporters, but enjoy the support and expertise of the parent organisation.

The good news is this means it can appoint local people to the board, who can make the important decisions themselves, and the trustees can make their owns plans going forward.

The challenge has now become that the foodbank now has to raise all its own funds.

With the warehouse almost fully stocked, those who run the foodbank would like to encourage everyone who is thinking about buying food for them to donate money instead.

 

'It is our job to help people through this crisis'

They said: “The pounds you would spend on baked beans or cereal could cover our running costs instead.

“We need to keep a busy foodbank van running, have to pay our warehouse rent and utility bills.”

John said: “We need instant mashed potato to go in our food parcels, and we need cash.”

John, who only recently became chairman of the trustees, said he has been surprised by the need for the foodbank in Salisbury.

“I thought Salisbury was a relatively prosperous place, but the need is definitely there, and it is only growing,” he said.

“People come to us for all manner of reasons, and I have been impressed by the dignity of the people who come to us for help. They don’t want to be in a position where they need us, and it’s our job to help them through this crisis.”

In November, Salisbury Foodbank project manager Maria Stevenson said the organisation and its volunteers have had to adapt to meet the demands thrown at it by the Covid-19 pandemic - from social distancing at its Ashfield Road warehouse, to the way referrals are made, with more being done online.

Furlough had an impact, as well as school holiday meals and sickness.

The charity is also having to adjust the way it gives out food, and is now doing more door-to-door deliveries.

The food bank centres remain open across three sites - St Paul’s Church Centre, Fisherton Street, Amesbury Community Shop, Flower Lane, and the Foodbank Warehouse in Ashfield Trading Estate.

For more information or to find out how you can help the foodbank, go to salisbury.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/.

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