The need for emergency food is currently greater than the donations being received by food banks.
Everyone is feeling the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, but for some people this is leaving them without the food they need – this is often referred to as “food insecurity” or “food poverty”.
Food prices have increased by 16.17% in the last year. This is a 45-year high.
May people simply cannot afford this.
In York, it is thought over 13,607 households are having to go without enough food.
Nationally:
- More people than ever are accessing food banks for the first time.
- Over 70% of food banks have seen a drop in food donations and nearly 90% have experienced supply issues in the last year.
- 1 in 5 people referred to food banks are in households where someone is working.
- Over half of Universal Credit claimants are struggling to afford the food they need.
- 1 in 4 households with children were affected by food insecurity in September 2022.
- Around 72% of children in families unable to afford food have at least one parent. who works.
- Adults who rent their homes are over three times more likely struggle to buy enough food, compared with those who own their home.
With record numbers of people seeking help, food banks are worried they will have to reduce the size of the parcel they can offer. Food banks are run by volunteers, churches, and charities across the city – but they need help to keep doing their amazing work.
To try and help, we are holding another York Together event – this time, a Food Drive.
This will take place on Friday 31st March and Saturday 1st April from 10am – 3pm on both days.
There are four drop off points where you can bring your donations:
- Central Methodist Church
St Saviourgate, York, YO1 8NQ - St Hildas Church
131A Tang Hall Ln, York, YO10 3SD - Southlands Methodist Church
97 Bishopthorpe Rd, York, YO23 1NX - Acomb Explore
Front Street, Acomb, York, YO24 3BZ
Items needed:
All donations will be shared out across all of our amazing food banks in York.
If you would like to donate cash to the York Together – Food Drive appeal, please do so here and we will use all the money raised to fund essential supplies for a city-wide alliance of food banks serving York’s poorest residents.
Rachael Maskell MP:
“I am hoping that the people of York will be as generous as they are able, to help replenish the stocks of York’s food banks. York Together is built on a simple principle – that if you can help, give, and if you have need, receive.
“People across York showed our incredible generosity during the York Together Warm Weekend last year – can you help again?”
If you would like to volunteer on the day at one of the venues, please email rachael.maskell.mp@parliament.uk.
Thank You