The chair of a foodbank in Wantage has praised the generosity of the local community ahead of the festive period set amid the cost-of-living crisis.
As the soaring cost of food and fuel continues to hit people across the county, many will be forced to make tough choices during the festive period.
The Trussell Trust, which handed out 1.3 million food parcels between April and September, warned foodbanks face a “tsunami of need” this winter as “more people find themselves unable to afford the essentials”.
For one foodbank in Wantage, however, the sheer generosity of local people means the most vulnerable will not go without this Christmas and New Year.
Wantage and Grove Foodbank is a community-based project organised by churches in the local area and helps to prove food parcels to those in need.
Denise Townsend, chair of the committee at Wantage and Grove Foodbank, explained the organisation has seen a lot more people using its services.
The 53-year-old said: “People have cut back in every single way with their budget and they still have not got enough.
“It is not like they are extravagant and going on holiday, having takeaways and spending on luxuries.
“They have cut back everything and still do not have enough money to live on.
“We are getting a lot more people that have jobs who are coming to us who otherwise might be able to cope but cannot now because they are not earning enough.
“We get people on zero-hour contacts, which really affects them. Many thought they would be working at this time of year but they are not because employers are cutting back.”
When asked what could be done to tackle cost-of-living crisis, Mrs Townsend feels one big improvement the Government could do is making benefits forms simpler and not forcing people to “jump through hoops” and then wait many weeks for support.
The increase the service has seen in need has been met in equal measure by an increase in donations and support from the local community.
“People have been exceedingly generous. They have responded to the need and we have found that with people in Wantage and Grove, when the need goes up the giving also goes up.
“People give us money and food – they have been lovely. They are definitely being very generous this year,” Mrs Townsend explained.
Wantage and Grove Foodbank provided 30 food parcels to local people last week and expects to a similar amount this week in the run up to Christmas.
Alongside donations to the service, she told this publication that what the organisation really needs is more space and would be keen to hear from anyone with a “spare bedroom” where they could store donations.
Do you need support this Christmas?
A spokesperson for Vale of White Horse District Council said: “Services available to support people in Wantage who are struggling to afford food during the cost-of-living crisis, include:
“•The Wantage Community Larder - a membership-based service, run by SOFEA, providing food at The Beacon in Portway. Members can access surplus food for a small weekly subscription fee.
“•The Mix Community Fridge - run by team of volunteers from Sustainable Wantage at The Mix, 15 Mill Street.
“•Wantage and Grove Food Bank - if anyone needs a food parcel, they must first contact or visit one of the ‘referral agencies’ listed on the website.
“For more details on these services, including the opening times over Christmas, please contact the service provider directly.
If anyone needs help because they are struggling financially, or just finding life difficult, they should visit our cost-of-living help pages at whitehorsedc.gov.uk/costofliving, this section includes information on free or affordable food support.
“Residents can also contact the South and Vale Community Hub, either by calling 01235 422600 or by emailing communitysupport@southandvale.gov.uk. This service is available until 4.30pm on Friday 23 December 2022 and will reopen on Tuesday 3 January 2023 at 8.30am. If you need urgent assistance over the Christmas period, please contact our out of hours service on 01235 422420.
“To find out more about council services over Christmas, visit whitehorsedc.gov.uk/christmas2022.”
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This story was written by Sophie Perry. She joined the team in 2021 as a digital reporter.
You can get in touch with her by emailing: sophie.perry@newsquest.co.uk
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