At a recent meeting of Glossopdale Foodbank trustees, one of the issues discussed was the increasing need for special food vouchers for people who do not have cooking facilities available where they live.

The vouchers are to enable them to access hot food or even a completely hot meal a couple of times a week.

"There are various reasons why people do not have cooking facilities where they live,” Charlotte Mendes-Kelly, the Foodbank coordinator, explained.

"Some families, who have been evicted from rented properties and have been rehoused in bed and breakfast accommodation while the council seeks more suitable homes for them, can only make tea or coffee in their rooms.

"A few are homeless, and although the number concerned is relatively small, this is a problem that could easily affect more people as the rise in gas and electricity bills begin to effect how people live." 

Once again the generosity of those locals who, on a regular basis, donate financially or put food into the baskets in the supermarkets, was applauded by the trustees.

“These people make the work the Foodbank does possible.” Charlotte added. “And although they too must be beginning to feel the effects of price rises, they do continue giving.”

On Thursday 30 June to Saturday 2 July, Tesco has once again offered the Foodbank an opportunity to be in their store and collect more donations and be able to thank the people who give these donations.

“It is also an opportunity to tell new donors what kind of food we collect and answer any questions they may have," said Godfrey Claff, the Foodbank Chair.

"People new to donating food sometimes do not know that we can only use food that has at least three months best before date on it. It also gives us an opportunity to tell them what food we need most on a regular basis. 

"On average 1,500 items of food are needed each week for the food parcels. Food such as tinned meat, both stewing steak and corned beef or ham, fish, mainly tuna, microwaveable rice, long life milk, tinned vegetables, fruit and puddings are all part of the necessities that make up each food parcel. But just as importantly, it gives an opportunity to thank people personally for how their generosity helps a lot of people in need.”

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