Last year, Southend Foodbank provided thousands of emergency food parcels to children, highlighting the ongoing need in the community
Southend: Last year, thousands of food parcels were handed out to kids in Southend and Rochford. The Southend Foodbank reported that nearly half of the 19,280 emergency parcels went to children.
Cass Francis, who handles communications at the foodbank, shared that the demand has been incredibly high. Even though inflation has slowed a bit and some benefits increased, families with low incomes are still struggling. They often have to spend most of their money on essentials like food and energy. This means many parents are skipping meals just to make sure their kids can eat.
She emphasized how crucial community support is for the foodbank. With the rising need, they’ve had to buy about half of the food they distribute. If people can help out by donating food regularly, it would make a big difference.
Cass mentioned to EssexLive that while they want to help people, they also wish they didn’t have to exist. The goal is for people to not need foodbanks anymore—that would be a real win.
She also warned that anyone can find themselves needing a foodbank. She’s talked to people who once had stable lives but now find themselves in tough situations. It’s a reminder that many of us are just a couple of paychecks away from hardship.
There’s even a new app called Bank the Food, created by Southend school kids. It helps users support their chosen foodbank by sending reminders when they’re in a supermarket about what’s needed right now.
A typical emergency food parcel includes items like cereal, tinned fruits and veggies, tinned meats, tea, biscuits, and more. It’s all about making sure families have what they need to get by.
If you want to help Southend Foodbank, check out their website for ways to support them.
