As the cost of living crisis grips the country; foodbanks in Birmingham are still in operation but in big trouble. Many of the city’s foodbanks are currently facing a shortage of food donations whilst juggling increasing demand.
Unless things change several foodbanks will be forced to close before the end of this year.
The pandemic has meant a drop in traditional donation channels with venues closed and local businesses struggling. Furthermore rising living costs mean recurring past donors now do not have spare funds to help with the shortfall between supply and demand.
In the short term, members of the public who are able to help are being asked to donate long life food at the collection points in supermarkets.
In addition, post Covid one off public collections are now restarting and your support is more crucial than ever.
“Are you attending the match at Villa Park this weekend?”, asks Nigel Cripps of the Aston and Nechells Foodbank. “If so please take a few cans of long life food and hand them in at the collection points at Aston Parish Church or the Gospel Hall on Trinity Road”. The foodbank is most in need of tinned fish, tinned fruit, UHT milk, cereal and long life juice/squash.
Whilst long life food is preferred, the logistics of carrying such bags to the game might be too much for some, in which case Kerry Lenihan suggests “If cans are too heavy to bring along to Villa Park, we are more than happy to accept something lighter such as coins & notes for our bucket collection. This will enable us to purchase those lines of food we are running short of”.
The collection will be held directly before Aston Villa take on Norwich City at both Aston Parish Church and Birchfield Gospel Hall this Saturday 30th April.
