Stock & donation levels lower than last year at an Aylesbury foodbank
Harvest usually brings in a huge portion of their items, but this year the response has been low.
Aylesbury locals are being asked to become Food Champions for the foodbank.
Last year Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse gave out around 6,000 food parcels and so far this year they have already given out 7,200.
This has hugely impacted they stock levels though, as James who works there explains:
"Before Covid we were averaging seeing about 500 people a month, since Covid hit our busiest month saw us see about 1,200 people.
"That has started to steadily decrease and we are currently seeing about 700-750 people.
"We would normally keep a stock of 2-3 months as a reserve stock in case we have a dip in donations for a month for any reason.
"When we were getting very busy we had to eat into that, and that all of that went. No, we are starting to build our stock levels back up but we are starting to see a bit of a decline in what food we are getting in with donations."
Usually this time of year would see an influx in donations due to the harvest, which would see the bank through the year for some stock.
For example they would usually have packed shelves of items like tuna and baked beans as well as cases in the back room, now though they are barely filling the trays in the main stock area.
James says there has been a noticeable slowing of donations, even compared to this time last year which is difficult when demand is expected to rise:
"We are projecting that with furlough coming to an end the need is going to increase, so we do need to level that with what food is coming in.
"We are getting into the period of harvest which would be a massive donation point for us in normal years. We have approached schools, churches and local business to help us but we are not seeing the response we would usually see owing to covid."
There are some ways to help your local foodbank though, with the easiest being grabbing an extra tin or box of food during your shop.
Although James also wanted to highlight luxury items like toiletries are often missed off and something foodbanks always need.
Many shops have drop off boxes in their entrance area which will be collected by the local foodbank or authority.
Aylesbury Vineyard Storehouse also run a 'Food Champions' initiative where people register to be a drop off point, allowing neighbours to drop off items to that house.
The Storehouse will then go and collect from that Champion, for more information on this scheme or how to support in other ways contact them via email at storehouse@aylesburyvineyard.org or by calling 01296 424 440.