Cumbrian food banks delivered over 6,000 food parcels
New data from Trussell Trust has been released.
Last updated 20th Nov 2024
Food banks across the Cumbria have handed out over 6,000 emergency food parcels between April and September this year.
Amy Wisenfeld, from the Trussell group, said: "We're still seeing an increasing number of people who are experiencing hardship, who don't have enough money in their pockets to be able to afford the essentials.
"Work isn't providing enough reliable routes out of poverty and things like lack of affordable child care, expensive housing and expensive transport can be barriers for people having enough money in their pockets to be able to afford food and other essential items."
Steph Hulmes runs the Carlisle Foodbank, she's concerned that this Christmas could see the number of people needing support rise even further.
Last year they distributed over 1000 food parcels in "December alone.
She said: "It's really hard for families, even talking to people now as they start to put heating on, people are already struggling to find extra money for that, let a lone food, and now you've got the pressures of Christmas.
"It's huge.
"The demand has grown tremendously in the past few years. We've seen a huge increase and month on month there is no let up. It's not getting better for anybody.
"We are seeing people who potentially don't have cooking facilities either. We're trying to make it food that might not need cooking or heating up. We can tailor a parcel to that."