Source > Yahoo News
By Clare Hastings
6 June 2022 17:00 BST
The Salvation Army, located on Hunters Lane, has seen referrals to its foodbank soar in recent months, with 1,211 referrals in the month of April alone, around the time the energy price cap rocketed around the country.
The Salvation Army Penrith has in the past used financial donations to fully stock the foodbank and is appealing for support in order to meet the demand as the cost of living crisis.
Major Carole Donaldson, joint church leader of The Salvation Army in Penrith said: “Sadly, we’re seeing more and more people come to us for help as the cost-of-living crisis deepens and some are barely able to meet their essential needs each month like food.”
“We are seeing extraordinary demand and our foodbank shelves are running low on supplies as donations have dipped as everyone feels the pinch.”
Open two days a week, Tuesday and Friday, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm, the foodbank works on a referral basis from the likes of Citizen Advice, job centre, local schools, health visitors and doctors.
Major Carole Donaldson continued: “Needing help can creep up quickly on anyone and something has gone wrong if people who are working can’t even afford to put food on the table.”
In previous years in the months after Christmas, the church and charity is usually inundated with items which they use to fill the shelves, but this year the demand is quickly overtaking the amount of stock in reserves and is seeing requests from all types of people.
For anyone wishing to donate food to the foodbank drop off points are located at Booths, Penrith, Morrisons Penrith, both located on Brunswick Road, and the church and community centre on Hunters Lane, Tuesday – Friday between 10 – 2:30pm.
The Penrith Corps (church) also has a Just Giving page.
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