Coventry foodbanks to shut for Queen's funeral

[dutchman]

Some foodbanks elsewhere in the UK have been criticised for closing during the funeral



Foodbanks in Coventry will be closed on the day of the Queen's funeral so volunteers have time to mourn. Three centres with Coventry Foodbank which usually open on a Monday will shut on 19 September, which has been declared a Bank Holiday.

Supermarkets, fast-food outlets, shops and libraries across the UK will also be closing on the day the Queen is laid to rest. Coventry's foodbanks also look set to be closed too.

Foodbanks elsewhere in the UK have come in for criticism for making the decision to close for the funeral, with some arguing they should stay open to help hard up families during the cost of living crisis. But Coventry's foodbanks say they would normally be closed on a bank holiday and feel it is important that volunteers get chance to mark the monarch's passing.

Hugh McNeill [pictured], Project Manager at Coventry Foodbank, told: "We normally close on a bank holiday, and we are conscious of the fact that volunteers give so much of their time and energy.

"The Queen's passing is almost a once in a lifetime occasion, the Queen was on the throne for over 70 years - many volunteers want to mark her passing by watching the funeral."

Mr McNeill added that there will be arrangements in place to make sure people in need do not run out of food. "We try to make sure that we provide food. We have a foodbank currently open on Saturdays in Canley," he said.

"There's other food provision around the city" such as emergency provision at the city council, he said. It's just one day in the year people won't be able to access food [from us]."

The three centres that are closing are the Queen's Road Baptist Church, St Francis of Assisi and St Catherine's Church of England.

Foodbanks across the city will re-open on Tuesday. There are now 15 distribution centres run by Coventry foodbank, with the latest opening a few weeks ago.

[dutchman]

The soup kitchen in Spon End hasn't said whether they will be open or not?