No judgment just kindness and a willingness to help as Wisbech Foodbank gears up for busy time this Christmas
Volunteers at a Fenland foodbank are gearing up for a busy time as the cost of living crisis and the expense of Christmas collide for local families already struggling.
Figures released earlier this month showed just how desperate the situation is for many living in the Wisbech area, with a massive 102 per cent rise in demand for help in September compared with the same month last year.
In fact in just six months between April and September volunteers at the foodbank, which is based at the Baptist Church in the Horsefair, handed out a whopping 1,960 food parcels.
Foodbank co-ordinator Margaret Gibbs and her team are bracing themselves for even greater demand once winter really starts to bite with heating bills at a record high, rising food prices and the expense of Christmas all converging like a tsunami of hits for families.
And unlike in previous years one of the biggest calls for help is coming from those in full-time work, rather than, as might be expected those on benefits.
The foodbank is hoping to ease the burden by providing double meat vouchers over Christmas, which can be used at the Royal Blue Meat Company in Market Place, as well as fleecy blankets for all family members to help with keeping warm and slow cookers and microwaves - while there is a supply - to help with cutting the cost of cooking.
Margaret said: "We know it is going get a lot worse for families this winter, and we will do what we can to help, but we rely on the generosity of the public to help with donations of food.
"At the moment we have a need for practically everything, except pasta and baked beans. We provide food parcels with enough to feed a family for three days. Our parcels vary in size depending on who we are helping, from single people to large families with a number of children.
"We try to add in treats where we can like biscuits and chocolate, but again it depends on what stock we have. We also help out with toiletries and other essentials. Every donation is gratefully received.
"Some of the stories we are hearing are heartbreaking and very often one of our frontline volunteers will shed a tear because of what they are being told - it is quite bleak for a lot of people at the moment."
Wisbech Foodbank is a God send
A single mum has described Wisbech Foodbank as a “God send” after she turned for help despite working full-time as a support worker.
Susan, not her real name, described how she finally turned to the foodbank after finding herself going hungry and unable to make ends meet.
Her story is all too common for the volunteers who work to provide a vital life-line for many families and individuals who are struggling in the face of the cost of living crisis.
Susan, who has one son, explained how despite having a Level 5 qualification in support work she is earning the minimum wage after being forced to give up her management role following an accident at work six years ago.
She said: “I couldn’t work for a number of years, but I’ve now returned to work but because I have been out of the industry so long I have had to start with a support worker role rather than in management.
“I’m working all hours I can possibly take on, but even doing that I cannot make ends meet - in fact I can’t even afford to buy myself deodorant. I’m drowning in debt because of the years I was unable to work, but the foodbank have been fantastic.
“There is no judgment just kindness and a willingness to help, in fact their support makes me want to cry. Because of what I do for a living I’m used to giving help, but now I need it myself. I would urge anyone who needs help to ask for it, it has been a weight off my shoulders being able to feed myself and my son.”
Susan’s story is mirrored by that of Deborah a single mum of five, one of which is disabled and she acts as a full-time carer for him.
Deborah’s troubles started when she was transferred to Universal Credit just after the COVID lockdown, she saw a massive drop in her income.
As a full-time carer for her middle son, she couldn’t afford the essentials so she had no option but to use a foodbank.
She said: “I got a foodbank referral from my local job centre and got in touch with a lovely lady who worked there. She is evidence that angels do walk the earth.
“She took the time to talk to me to let me know I’m not alone and arranged a foodbank delivery a couple of days later. We had food. We had teabags. Sugar. We had vouchers for the butchers to get some actual meat! We had toiletries, toilet roll, shampoo. What really broke my heart was the gifts included for my children as it was Christmas. A little doll for my daughter. Some games for the older ones. Selection boxes for each child.
“Then, I was put in touch with a lady who managed to get me some energy vouchers and food vouchers for a supermarket. I wish words could describe how joyful it was suddenly we could have the hot water on and take baths, my kids could play in the bath and we had the heating on. We could eat dinner and have supper before bed as there was enough food.
“I will never ever forget the support I had.
“Foodbanks may be described as organisations that support people but they are actually so much more than that. They are literally keeping families alive. The people that work there are not just doing their job but actually putting their heart and soul into it. The love and support I felt from them is unlike anything I have ever experienced.
“I think I can assuredly say that without the food bank I don’t think I would be here today.”
Anyone interested in helping the foodbank with donations of food, money, or time can find more information on their website www.wisbech.foodbank.org.uk