Vicky ParryThe harsh reality of hunger is something that people forget is on their own doorstep. The reality of not being able to buy food is however a very real one that is suffered by many across the city. Therefore the York Food Bank is a very welcome new initiative.
The York Foodbank, based at the Gateway Church in Acomb opens today. It has been set up in partnership with the Trussell Trust as a charity that urges the people of York to donate items from their supermarket shop to a new food bank. Much like the existing project run by The Salvation Army the project aims to aid those doubtful of where to get their next meal.
A team of volunteers is currently collecting food from shoppers at Morrisons, Acomb, throughout Wednesday.
The project is not suggested as a long term answer to the problem and is by no means about long-term dependency. Manager Caleb Ellwood told the BBC that ”This is about people whose cupboards are bare for all manner of reasons, whether that’s sudden unemployment or changes to benefits, any reason like that, somebody who just has nothing in their cupboards.”
Chris Mould, Executive Chairman of the Trussell Trust, said it was opening three new food banks a week at the moment.
He said: “Reality is reality. There are people going hungry, thousands of them, in this nation, and the situation is getting significantly worse.
“Over the last few years because of the recession more people are facing difficulties with employment, low wages and in the last five years food prices have gone up dramatically.”
So, when in the supermarket next Wednesday, even if you add an extra tin of beans to your trolly, look out for the volunteers and make a very simple difference to people’s lives around us.
