Salford Foodbank is to open a new food distribution centre in Eccles to help more local people who are struggling to put food on the table.
Demand has risen by 43% since last year with the foodbanks now helping 42 families every week with emergency food parcels.
Between January and September this year, the three existing foodbanks in Eccles and Central Salford had given out 3884 three day emergency food parcels of which 1560 were for children – a 43% increase compared to the same period in 2016.
Salford City Council, which is working to tackle poverty in the city, has provided funding of £75,000 to help set up the new foodbank as part of a wider plan to tackle food poverty in the city.
Salford Central Foodbank manager Mark Whittington said: ‘Having seen an increase in the amount of people that we help year on year, we have been wanting to open up new foodbank distribution centres so that we can help more people access our service.
“We had been considering opening up in Eccles and Swinton and now that we have funding to help with this, we will be opening our new Eccles foodbank centre on Friday mornings from 11am to 1pm at Connect Church on Wellington Road. In 2018 we are looking to open up a fourth centre in Swinton.”
City Mayor Paul Dennett said: “While I’m grateful to everyone involved in and who supports our Salford foodbanks for stepping forward to help people in dire need, I’m horrified by the increase in demand. If the foodbanks weren’t there we would have people starving and that is unthinkable in 21st century Britain.
“No-one should be in that position which is why they have my full support. This is part of a wider programme of supporting food banks and food clubs in Salford, investing in our city to achieve our ambitious ‘Feeding Salford’ plan of ending hunger in the city.”
Tom Togher, Chair of Salford Food Share, a partnership of all the major food crisis services in the city, added: “Salford City Council should be congratulated on its efforts to fight food poverty, and its willingness to support a co-ordinated approach to food crisis services.”
People attending any of the foodbank centres in Salford are identified by local frontline care professionals, such as health visitors or social workers, and given a voucher to exchange for their food.
The official opening of the new Eccles foodbank distribution centre is happening at 10am on Friday 3rd November. Refreshments will be provided and Rebecca Long-Bailey MP will carry out the official opening ceremony.
