Food bank sees donations drop by 40%

The Fareshare food bank in Ashford said its warehouse was only 20% full, with demand rising

A food bank has launched an appeal after seeing donations drop by 40%.

Managers at Fareshare in Ashford believe the rising cost of living is to blame.

They said they were having to buy food to make up the shortfall in the parcels they distributed.

The food bank said demand had also risen by 40% in 2022, and was likely to have risen by a further 20% by the end of 2023.

Deputy operations Manager Tony Barnard said the warehouse was only 20% full, with the food bank having to live week by week.

"This warehouse would normally be full from the bottom up," he said.

"If we haven't got enough food on the shelves, then it means me going out and spending money. That's why we need the Christmas promotion to really work, so we can provide even more food boxes over the next six months."

He said Fareshare had provided about 10,500 food boxes in 2022.

Tony Barnard is hoping a Christmas appeal will help fill the food bank's empty shelves

Volunteer Renee Aird said the food bank was used by a wide variety of people.

"We have everyone from people who are homeless to the elderly. We have single parent families. We also have working class families," she said.

Volunteer Renee Aird said there should be no stigma in using a food bank

"We want to take away the stigma of coming to a food bank, we want to be as welcoming as possible," Ms Aird said.

"The people coming through our doors are struggling and there is no shame in that. We want to help in whatever way we can.”