Demand drops for Salisbury Foodbank but donations still needed

Salisbury Foodbank dished out more than 8k emergency food parcels to struggling families in the last year, with more than 3,000 going to children.

While this was two per cent less when compared to the previous year, residents continue to face hardship as they are unable to afford essentials.

The levels of need were particularly acute in December, which was the busiest month for Salisbury Foodbank, with 936 emergency food parcels provided by staff and volunteers.

Additionally, a further 2,000 people were supplied with seasonal hampers.

Staff at Salisbury Food Bank

A typical emergency food parcel consists of items such as tinned fruit and vegetables, canned meat and fish, tea, coffee, biscuits, UHT milk, and rice and much more.

But Salisbury Foodbank is having to purchase more and more stock as donations are no longer meeting local need.

The food bank's stock is depleting with an average of 11 tonnes of food leaving the doors with only eight tonnes coming in monthly, presenting the charity with a large deficit.

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Manager Maria Stevenson, at Salisbury Foodbank, said: "We have faced a very challenging few years with rising demand. 44 per cent of people accessing our support are citing the main cause to be rising cost of essentials in 2023/2024. 

"This is a situation we all share, with increased household bills and essentials such as food and insurance. People with the lowest income do not have the financial resilience to buffer cost of living increases."

Salisbury Foodbank manager Maria Stevenson. (Image: Salisbury Journal)

On average, Salisbury Foodbank supports 700 people every month with food parcels and connects them to advice which makes it less likely they will need to use the food bank again.

Maria said: "We have funded Wiltshire Citizens Advice to address the root cause of people’s financial hardship, offering a fast track, face to face service for people accessing Salisbury Foodbanks support.

"I am delighted to record that this hard work and partnership working is starting to pay off."

The support of Salisbury and its surrounding community is "vital" in ensuring that Salisbury foodbank can be there for anyone who turns to it for help.

"In the last quarter of 2023/24 we purchased over £12k worth of food to ensure local people will not face hunger in the next month," added Maria.

Donations can be dropped off at the food bank and supermarket collection points.

Financial donations can be made payable to Salisbury Foodbank, Unit 6b Ashfield Road Trading Estate, SP2 7HL.