Woking Foodbank hoping to buy new van to make the foodbank mobile
They want it to minimise travel for those using their services.
As the cost of living continues to rise, the impact on the increase in fuel is the latest concern for those already struggling to make ends meet.
Woking Foodbank are intending to buy a new van which would enable them to reduce the need for their customers and users to travel to them, eliminating fuel and potential parking costs to get access to the foodbank.
The charity have set up a fundraiser, with the aim to purchase the van over summer and begin their mobile foodbank, visiting places such as schools where users may already be going to.
Fuel increases are continuing to rise in price, with an average family car expected to hit nearly £100 to fill up.
Woking Foodbank Manager Alison Buckland said:
"We are trying to buy a new van because we want to obviously try to take some of the foods to some of the places where people won't have to travel in their cars to go and pick it up.
"We're going to try and access maybe taking the food bank to schools and things like that potentially for people."
Another new scheme that Woking Foodbank are hoping to introduce is working with Fuel Banks, a scheme where sustainable solutions are used to support homes in fuel crisis, for those who may be unable to top up their prepayment meters, which can be aided by partners they are working with.
Alison explained that, "When someone is referred to the food bank, us as a team, our support workers, volunteers, will have a chat with that person.
"If it looks like the fuel bank will be useful for them, we will be able to give them some support that way.
"We haven't started it yet, we are just in the process of going through all the paperwork, but it's imminent."
More information on Woking Foodbank's new van can be found on their website at https://woking.foodbank.org.uk/2022/05/17/we-need-a-new-van/