Father Christmas Can't Reach Everyone This Christmas: Food Banks Do
This article was written by one of our Young Reporters, a scheme that gives 14 to 18-year-old school students a chance to write for a real newspaper. Find out more at the Young Reporter website.
When you think of food banks, you perhaps think of people on Universal Credit or job seekers — people you believe “can’t be bothered” — but this is far from the truth.
This is a harmful misconception, as it can reduce public sympathy and willingness to donate, despite food insecurity affecting people from all walks of life.
Debbie, who works at the Waterlooville Food Bank, sees people that have fallen down on their luck unexpectedly: lost jobs, illness or bereavement, and as a result need the support of the food bank.
At Waterlooville Food Bank, they help local families with food parcels that help feed themselves for up to a week — people who would otherwise go hungry.
With 40 families to support a week, lots of donations are always needed — however, at Christmas time, this demand skyrockets.
Christmas is a time for exchanging gifts, spending time with family and Christmas dinner.
However, for some, it is the most difficult time of the year.
Father Christmas doesn’t reach every child at Christmas — some parents must choose between feeding their children and keeping their homes warm.
As a result, food banks are most essential during this time, providing necessary support for families struggling to cope with these additional pressures.
Over the Christmas period, at Waterlooville Food Bank, they go from supporting 40 families a week to 200 families each day — meaning donations at this time are critically needed.
However, with the lasting effects of Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis, the food bank has found that people are struggling to feed themselves, let alone donate.
Debbie said, “we have found that now that the cost of food has risen, so our donations have reduced.”
The items they are most in need of are: tinned meals, meats, vegetables, fruit, rice pudding, custard, noodles, rice, jams and squash.
You can help by donating items when shopping in your local supermarket, simply by putting even one item into the foodbank trolleys.
As Debbie explained, “if 100 people picked up an extra item, that's 100 extra items we have.
“No donation is too small.”
