Rugbeians urged to help struggling residents by donating to Foodbank - The Rugby Observer

Rugbeians urged to help struggling residents by donating to Foodbank

Rugby Editorial 27th Jun, 2022   0

‘INVALUABLE’ food donations are needed to help struggling Rugbeians through the spiralling cost-of-living crisis this summer, as demand at Rugby Foodbank continues to rise.

Staff and volunteers at the Foodbank – part of the Trussell Trust’s national network of food banks – are calling on shoppers to donate food and other essentials to this year’s Tesco Summer Food Collection.

From Thursday June 30 to Saturday July 2, customers at the Tesco superstore in Leicester Road will be encouraged to pick up an extra item or two to drop in to donation trollies on their way out of the store.

The Foodbank’s Service Delivery Manager Adi Robinson is urging people to give generously.




He said: “No one in Rugby should be facing hunger, and we want to see an end to local people needing emergency food at all.

“While we work alongside other food banks in the Trussell Trust network to bring about long-term change to ensure everyone has enough money for the essentials, any donations of our most-needed items will be invaluable.


“This support is needed now more than ever, as families across the country are facing the biggest income squeeze in a generation and many people on the very lowest incomes are struggling to put food on the table.

“We hope to continue to offer vital support to families and children over the coming months, which will know will be particularly tough for many people in the local area.”

Rugby Foodbank provided over 5,500 food parcels to local people who couldn’t afford the essentials in the year ending March 2022 – a near five per cent rise on the 12 months leading up to the pandemic.

Demand at the Foodbank is now over two-and-a-half times higher than in Hope4’s first full year of operation in 2012-13.

Adi said low income had now overtaken benefit delays as the main reason people visited the Foodbank.

And staff say the future ‘looks bleak’ for struggling residents as the cost-of-living crisis leaves more residents unable to pay for the essentials, with many volunteers feeling stretched and ‘wondering where this will end’.

Diana Mansell, Chair of the Hope4 charity which runs Rugby Foodbank and the Hope Centre, said: “We want to thank everyone who has responded recently to our news that stocks were down. We have seen an increase in donations which is heartening, but sadly also a rise in the number of people needing our help.

“The coming months will be a particularly tough period as people struggle to cover the basic costs of living such as bills, food and other essentials. As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, we and other food banks are doing all they can to help meet the extra financial pressures that families are facing.

“Food banks in our network always work incredibly hard to ensure that people facing hardship get support and we are working closely with the Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure our clients have quick access to advice on many issues – but we have sadly seen need accelerate over the recent months.

“No one should have to go without something as essential as food, but I have no doubt that the generosity of Tesco customers and colleagues this summer will once again help food banks provide the best possible help to families facing hunger today, while working towards a future where everyone can afford the essentials in life – like food.

“Thank you for your generosity – together we can make a difference.”

All food donations to Tesco in Rugby will be used to support people in the area who are experiencing hardship and will be forced to use a food bank over the coming months.

Customers are being asked to donate essential items of long-life food such as tinned fish and meat, long life milk, tinned vegetables. Shopping lists will be available at the entrance to the store, as well as posters with QR codes which will take customers to the shopping list.

Tesco will top up customers’ food donations with a financial donation of 20 per cent of the value of the items donated, which will help Rugby Foodbank to provide emergency food parcels and practical support.

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