Kettering food bank appeals for donations as demand spikes

A food bank in Kettering is appealing for vital donations after a surge in demand because of coronavirus.

Kettering District Food Bank, managed by Kettering Community Unit (KCU) and the Trussell Trust, has urged people to gift items such as tinned meat and fish so their parcels can represent a balanced nutritional diet.

Shelves across the town are bare with many shoppers stockpiling and some stories of people even taking food from food bank baskets in supermarkets.

The food bank's appeal comes after a number of factors which KCU chief executive Paul Jackson said had "created the perfect storm".

He said: "There's been a real reduction of items being donated that are important and there's also a reduction in volunteers because many are self-isolating.

"Then there's a spike in demand because you've got families that are off that need food and people who are self-isolating who can't get out."

The food bank is still supporting more than 100 families a week but warned they are soon going to get to a point where they will only be able to put in whatever they have.

They are appealing for: tinned meat, tinned fish, tinned vegetables, long-life milk, tinned fruit and tinned rice pudding.

Mr Jackson said: "Many of the items we used to get like pasta you just can't find on the shelves at the minute.

"Donations of tinned meat and tinned fish, which are the staples of a food bank parcel, have reduced significantly."

Donations can be dropped off at the KCU offices in Gold Street, the High Street charity shop and the food bank in Stanier Close most mornings as well as food bank baskets in most supermarkets

To help, call 01536 482084 or email [email protected].

Mr Jackson added: "This is not a short term problem, this is a longer term problem.

"The more we can do now the easier it's going to be when we hit the bottom of this."