Nuneaton foodbank hit by surge in demand during coronavirus lockdown

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Nuneaton foodbank desperately needs these items



Almost 600 people, including children, needed help from Nuneaton's foodbank in just over a month.

Latest figures show that 580 people, of which 203 were children, needed emergency food parcels in the space of five weeks.

Nuneaton Foodbank volunteers have released the data as they continue to deal with the demand from those who are struggling to afford to feed themselves or their families.

They have issued a shopping list of the items they desperately need to ensure they can make up the emergency packages.

They are:

• Sponge puddings
  
• Tinned spaghetti/hoops
  
• Small jars of coffee
  
• Tinned custard
  
• Cereals
  
• Tinned fruit
  
• Tinned fish
  
• Tea bags (40’s)
  
• Crisps
  
• Biscuits
  
• Fruit juice
  
• Male and female deodorant
  
• Shaving Gel/Foam
  
• Toothpaste
  
• Shower gel
  
• Shampoo
  
• Washing-up liquid
  
• Washing powder

While the demand for help remains high, the Nuneaton foodbank volunteers say they continue to be overwhelmed by the support of the local community.

Food donations can be made at Nuneaton Asda, Sainsburys, Attleborough Co-op, Galley Common Co-op, Bulkington Co-op, Yorkshire Bank and Dunelm Mill

Cash donations can be made direct to the Foodbank to help pay towards food, these can be made via the website here

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Cost of living crisis-hit foodbank in Nuneaton says: 'we need help'



Nuneaton's in-demand foodbank needs more volunteers to help keep up with the rising number of people who need assistance. As we reported in our newsletter, the foodbank has seen huge levels of demand for help, with numbers up 40 per cent last month alone, compared to the same time last year.

Now the energy price cap has risen, the foodbank is braced to see even more people in need of emergency food parcels. And there are fears it will add pressure onto what is a small but dedicated team.

To help keep up with demand, David Stanier, chair of the foodbank, has asked the community - who are so generous with their donations - to be generous with their time too. "We are very light on volunteers, we need help," he said.

"We have, like so many other places, been hit with Covid and people having to isolate. Also, because most of our volunteers are older, we have had some who have not been able to do so much.

"We are always grateful for any volunteer help, anyone who can spare some time to help out at our centres. We are experiencing an increase in demand and the only way we can keep up with it is down to the help of the community."

The plea for helping hands also comes at a time when the foodbank is looking to secure a permanent home to use as its warehouse. Currently they are relying on the generosity of a church - but that cannot last forever.

"This is only temporary. We really do need a permanent warehouse, somewhere prominently positioned in Nuneaton," he said.

"We have been so busy with demand - focusing on that, we have not been able to really look. No one has expected the situation (levels of demand) we are in now but if anyone has a suitable premises or knows of one we can use as a warehouse to store our donations, we would be very grateful."

Anyone who would like more information about volunteering or to offer help should email nfbvolunteers@gmail.com. Those who know of a suitable location for the foodbank to use as a warehouse should email info@nuneaton.foodbank.org.uk. People can also donate funds to help the foodbank buy the items it needs to help make the emergency parcels via the website here