Fenland food bank helps bring cheer to hundreds this Easter
It's thought more than 800 Easter eggs have been donated this year
Last updated 1st Apr 2024
A Fenland foodbank hopes that it's played a part in giving struggling families some joy this Easter.
This year around 800 Easter eggs are believed to have been donated across the Ely Foodbank group's centres, part of the Trussell Trust, for those in need.
March Foodbank is part of the Ely Foodbank group and has supplied people needing the most help with an Easter treat on top of their essential items, such as pasta and rice.
"I ensure my service users have all got something"
Becky Cooper's the manager at the March service:
"It's a special time so they get special bits, but they still need their normal food; we like to ensure the people do get that extra treat because me and you would have an Easter egg, so I try and ensure my service users have all got something," she said.
"I think across the centres we've had about 800 Easter eggs in for two weeks."
Demand continues to jump
In its budget for 2024-25, Cambridgeshire County Council pledged to spend £3 million to continue providing holiday food vouchers for all children eligible for free school meals.
The authority also plans to invest £2.2m on other anti-poverty measures, such as supporting vulnerable people with claiming welfare benefits they're entitled to.
Becky supports the proposals, but hopes these can turn into action.
"Demand has increased and has been increasing since last summer, we haven't seen it stop," she added.
"Our demographic has changed to a lot of working families because their wages haven't increased in line with everything else.
"When you see clients burst into tears when they see what they're given, you know that you're doing good; people are very nice when they come to us and they are genuine people in need."