Staffordshire meals financial institution ‘braced’ for an additional tough winter | EUROtoday

A meals financial institution is bracing itself for a tough winter as figures confirmed a pointy enhance within the variety of households needing assist within the West Midlands.

Jane Baker, supervisor at Newcastle-Staffs Foodbank in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, mentioned it urgently wanted donations to proceed serving to these in want in the course of the colder months.

Her plea got here as charity the Trussell Trust revealed greater than 61,000 emergency meals parcels had been delivered to folks throughout the area between December 2024 and February 2025.

Ms Baker mentioned: “We are bracing ourselves for another difficult winter and are urgently seeking the public’s support so we can continue to help people facing hunger.”

Last winter noticed a 27% enhance in demand for meals parcels in comparison with pre-pandemic ranges, the charity mentioned, and likewise included 22,000 parcels for youngsters, which was 19% greater than in 2019/2020.

“We are seeing so many working families, carers, and pensioners walking through our doors,” Ms Baker mentioned. “This isn’t right.”

She mentioned meals banks weren’t the reply to the problem of meals poverty however had been a lifeline for 1000’s of individuals “facing hunger and hardship”.

“We’re determined to continue providing vital support this winter but we urgently need donations or we might not be here next year,” she mentioned.

“Donations are down, while costs are up. When people’s shelves are empty, our food banks can’t be.”

According to the Trussell Trust, meals banks within the West Midlands spent an estimated £315,000 on meals as donations struggled to maintain up with the demand.

Sophie Carre, the charity’s director of engagement at Trussell, mentioned: “Christmas should be a time of joy and celebration, but this winter too many people will be struggling just to get by.

“Tens of 1000’s of households  shall be compelled to show to a meals financial institution for the primary time as they’re left exhausted, remoted and with out sufficient cash to stay on.”