AS the cost of living continues to rocket, the city’s food bank is preparing itself for less donations but more demand.
Salisbury Foodbank, started by the Trussell Trust in 2000, currently feeds around 100 people a week, on top of providing for schools and supporting the city through various projects.
With hikes in fuel and energy costs however, the charity needs community backing more than ever.
Reacting to the living crisis
Describing the situation as “double-edged”, food bank manager Maria Stevenson said: “This is going to be a big worry for us, it will impact on demand as the average family won’t have that extra £5 to give to the food bank any more, and we will see more people coming to our doors for that same reason.”
She added: “How is it going to stretch our capabilities, are we going to have to buy stock in to cover that, are our own bills going to go up and can we cover that?”
With three months of food stocked in the warehouse, Maria said: “Our demand is going up, so what I don’t want to see is that demand going up and our donations going down, this would be a big problem.
“We are always reacting to an ever changing economic climate – universal credit, the pandemic and now the living crisis.
“The dynamic of food bank users has changed from pre-pandemic to post-pandemic, it’s a complete mixed bag.”
Mental health, low income
Mental wellbeing has become one of the main reasons people now turn to food banks, with Salisbury Food Bank trends suggesting “single males with poor mental health” are the majority demographic.
Maria added that some of the biggest causes of crisis include low income, benefit delays, benefit changes and homelessness.
“It’s not easy to admit you need help and there’s a large pride barrier there, there are people who really don’t want to be here but are struggling, but it’s okay to reach out,” Maria added.
Behind the scenes
Products the food bank currently needs includes pasta sauce, instant mash potato, sponge pudding, tinned tomatoes, milk powder, toilet roll, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
When items are delivered they are weighed, sorted by date and categorised within the warehouse.
It is here in the Ashfield Road site that emergency food boxes are packed, providing the recipient with around nine meals.
There are around 60 volunteers supporting Salisbury Food Bank.
Looking ahead, the charity is considering to offer fresh food, as well as cookery courses and a mobile unit for rural areas to access.
'It might be you'
John Pitt Brooke, chairman of trustees, told the Journal: “Salisbury Food Bank belongs to Salisbury, it’s a safety net for all people here should they need it. You just never know, it might be you.”
Responding to the living crisis, he said: “We’re expecting more people to come to us, which will be a big challenge, but we’re ready for that.
“We’re making our own way, and I can say with confidence we’re ready for the future, but we still need people to continue with donations of food and money. I can’t say that loud enough.”
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