The number of people using a foodbank in Penwortham has quadrupled since the pandemic according to those who pack up food parcels for those in need.
Penwortham Foodbank now supports more than 80 people each week.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the foodbank saw 20 people per week but say this figure has risen rapidly.
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One woman, who uses this food bank said: “It’s getting so much harder to go shopping because I can’t afford it.”
As Christmas approaches there’s an added pressure to provide for people who don’t have the income they need to buy the necessities.
This foodbank is gearing up for the next couple of weeks as it is the busiest time of the year and they have seen up to 126 people queuing for essentials before.
Julie Clowes, a volunteer said: “We are currently seeing around 80 households, not all the same but we anticipate a couple hundred more in the next week or so.”
Despite the high volume of users at this food bank, the South Ribble Borough Council has taken some of the pressure of the food banks and is putting their funding into independent living which supports people over the age of 55.
This funding helps these people to have cooking classes as well as lunch clubs and therefore they don’t need to rely on a food bank.
Due to the rising cost of living there has also been a drop in the number of donations to Penwortham Foodbank.
Julie Clowes said: “Penwortham is known to be a very giving area, there are a lot of people who are in a position to be able to offer support, but a pound or a fiver doesn’t stretch as far anymore.”
Penwortham Foodbank service is held at Kingsfold Community Centre every Friday from 9:30-12pm.
If anyone in the Penwortham area needs support from this service, you can contact them at Penworthamfoodbank@gmail.com
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