I am sure you are aware of the vital part Foodbanks are playing in our society at the moment. Thirteen million people live below the poverty line in the UK with individuals going hungry every day for a variety of reasons from benefit delays to receiving an unexpected bill on a low income.
Your foodbank in Taunton alone has donated over 4900 three day emergency food supplies to local people in crisis between 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018, compared to 4356 in the previous year. Of this number, 1837 went to children and we support those on free school meals by donating lunches during the school holidays to fill the gap normally provided by the school.
We could not do this without the support and donations of our amazing local community. To this end, we have written to local schools, colleges and churches to ask if they would consider allowing their students/parishioners to raise donations in the form of non-perishable, in-date food for the Taunton Foodbank as part of the Harvest Festival celebrations this Sunday 23 September.
We are particularly short of long life fruit juice, tins of carrots, peas, ham, corned beef, fruit and rice pudding.
These celebrations generate a huge surge in our collections and it would make a huge difference to our ability to help those who visit our Foodbank for help.