I have just placed an order from Tesco.
Maximum of 200 items allowed. 200 items ordered. Still need to go to store to purchase the rest.
This is a foodbank shop as my warehouse in March is nearly empty and the main store in Ely (which dispatches to Ely, Soham, Burwell, Haddenham, Waterbeach, Cottenham and Chatteris) is even worse.
I'm expecting between 24-30 emergency parcels to be needed on Tuesday at March and have stock for maybe 6.
On the last day of the year, our data shows just how many local people are now in crisis:
We’ve fed almost 2x the number we helped last year, and we still have a busy Friday to go 😢
We’re struggling to keep up with this huge increase in need. Please support us if you can 🙏 pic.twitter.com/IKYNQM86NX
— Ely Foodbank (@Ely_Foodbank) March 31, 2023
I can't rely on the donations we collect each week as our donators are really the pinch too – so sadly I've had to spend some of our reserves (which I'm saving for Christmas) so our families can have a few extras and some treats.
Last week I weighed in 250kg of food but sent out 24 parcels, the average weight was 20kg. That's nearly double out to donations in.
This current crisis is heart-breaking.
(Becky Edgley-Cooper is the co-ordinator for March Foodbank)
