Cornish foodbanks tackle rising demands as cost of living is set to soar
Saltash foodbank have had to change the way they work in the busiest season of year
Foodbanks across Cornwall are currently tackling rising demand as the cost of living is set to rise across the country.
A government minister has insisted that the planned rise to National Insurance WILL go ahead this April.
Chris Philp made the comments amid reports Boris Johnson could delay the move.
It is over concerns it will force inflation to rise even more, driving up prices in the shops.
It comes as a small foodbank in Cornwall is thanking its volunteers and community donations for their support during a busy winter period, with rising demands and changed services due to the pandemic.
Over the Christmas holidays, Saltash foodbank offered over 100 festive hampers on top of their usual food parcels, support and partnerships to help people who are struggling during a challenging time.
In total, gifts, hampers and food parcels were offered to 155 adults and 156 children over the festive holidays.
Richard Margetts, chair of Saltash foodbank, said: "It has been very busy.
"We're all volunteers, we had to recruit additional volunteers, drivers and it added more communication issues in terms of getting the food to people. We now have a mixed service, we deliver some and some are collected from us but we still can't have people come in to centre.
"The volunteers have really worked very hard, not only to continue to provide a service but also to change it over the past year".
During the pandemic they had to change the way they worked, changing from a drop-in collection service to deliveries.
These parcels were delivered to peoples homes with Covid rules meaning people are unable to visit the centre, and involved presents for children as well as foods and essential goods.
Richard continued: "We contact current clients and also people we've served in the past few months if they want a Christmas hamper.
"It provides additional food but also it just shows people that they're actually being noticed because a lot of people feel very isolated if they have to use them, very cut off or a bit awkward about it. So it's a way of recognising that they're still there, we still know about them".
Throughout the year, Saltash foodbank continues their services to the public, by providing food and helping with other issues such as utility bills by providing some funding as well as referring them to other organisations who can continue to support those in need.
This includes partnerships with debt services and citizens advice to help people.
Richard told us he's thankful for the hard work of all of the community and the support people and volunteers in Saltash have given to them over the festive season.
He told us: "One of foodbanks aims as an organisation is to get rid of the need to have foodbanks. We shouldn't have to do this but it's wonderful that we have a lot of people who are donating food and a lot of people who are prepared to volunteer and make sure people are supported at this difficult time of the year".