Caring for local
people in crisis
Covering Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay
and surrounding villages.
Check out our news on Facebook and Twitter:
#FoodBankFriday
If you are able to support us this week we would appreciate fruit juice and whole milk for our children’s parcels. We are running very low!
You can also support us financially by texting FOOD1 to 70970 to donate £5. Or visit easydonate.org/FOOD1 *
Thank you!
Canterbury Food Bank today expressed ‘deep concern’ that the government has voted against extending free school meals to children in poverty during the holidays.
The charity said it was ‘astonishing that the least well off in society had been left to fend for themselves beneath the darkening shadow of a pandemic.’
It urged any parents who can not afford to feed their children or themselves to contact it immediately for food.
CFB is also sending emergency food parcels to children in the area through its extensive contacts with schools.
Nearly a third of all children in the UK – 30% – are being brought up in poverty, according to the official government Households Below Average Income survey.
Demand from food banks for children’s parcels more than doubled (122%) year on year at the start of lockdown and has remained high ever since.
Chair Martin Ward said: “We are deeply concerned that this decision will increase the burden on those already suffering, while pushing even more families into poverty.
“It is astonishing that the least well off in society have been left to fend for themselves in this way beneath the darkening shadow of a pandemic.
“There are no circumstances in which it is right to let a child go hungry.”
He added: “This food bank was set up to fight against poverty and, with other organisations, to help alleviate the issues faced by those who use our services.
“But our concern for some time has been that the work of food banks is becoming normalised. This should not be so.
“We will, of course, be there to support those in need not just next week but in the weeks and months to come. We thank everyone for their support.”
The charity provides emergency three-day food parcels to individuals and families in financial need across Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and surrounding villages.
Canterbury, Whitstable, Herne Bay and surrounding villages: are you worried about feeding your children? We’re here to help, always. You can self refer on our website for assistance.
Don’t skip meals. Let’s get you fed.
https://canterburyfoodbank.org/need-food/
Cc: @MarcusRashford
