Pressure on food bank service as demand rockets

Food bank co-ordinator Amy Colley said 2023 is on track to be their busiest on record

A charity worker has said she fears the food bank she operates may run out of goods to distribute due to spiralling demand.

More than 10,000 people have used Lincoln Foodbank since the start of 2023, co-ordinator Amy Colley said.

The charity has seen an 18% increase in use since last year, and an 84% rise since 2021.

Ms Colley said the rise in demand was creating a "massive, massive strain" on resources.

Empty food boxes are increasingly common at Lincoln Foodbank

"There have been moments when I've gone into the warehouse and thought we don't have enough food for next week," Ms Colley said.

"What happens to somebody if they come to the food bank and the food bank doesn't have enough food?"

She said there was "massive pressure" to source food donations.

"We rely on donations and, obviously, people are in a position where they can't donate," she said.

"We're needing to source donations more than ever before."

The variety of people using the foodbank has also increased.

"We see elderly people, we see single mums, families, couples, young people, old people, people in professional work like nurses or teachers," she added.

The food bank relies heavily on donations and volunteers for support

Ms Colley appealed for donations of items with a long shelf life such as meals in a can and tinned vegetables and fruit.

"This will be our busiest year unless something incredible happens and nobody needs a food parcel in the next month," she added.