Cornwall foodbank sees double the demand ahead of winter
Camborne, Pool and Redruth foodbank provided 1200 meals in just one hour
A foodbank in Cornwall has warned they have seen double the demand for foodbanks in a year as they head into the winter.
Cornwall, Pool and Redruth foodbank provided around 8,000 meals in September last year. This year they provided around 14,000 meals in the same month.
Don Gardner, from Transformation CPR, said: "The problems are worse. It's about the fear of what is going to happen during the winter. On last Wednesday week in the evening, in an hour we provided 1200 meals and people are really scared.
"Our numbers have doubled".
"We're actually having to buy food this year and it's the first year we're having to do it. We have great supporters in the area and people will put food in, and people will help us.
"What's happened is people are scared themselves with the energy costs and the cost of living. They've had to cut back on that for us because they haven't got disposable income. Our numbers have doubled this year, so we've been struck twice. We have less food coming in and more food going out".
Don told us there's plans to create a winter warmth hub in the church and they plan to work to fulfil all the needs of people in the community.
"Food, people cannot go without”.
It comes after an event in Truro discussing the issues around poverty. In a speech to the conference, Don Gardner said: "It's not about figures, it's about people. Food, people cannot go without".
He told us: "We're seeing a lot more people who are in work. Families who are struggling. It used to be just a crisis, have food for one or two weeks to help them out of a financial situation or a problem.
"Now people are thinking I can't afford food this week, I can't afford food next week, what am I going to do the week after. There are real mental health issues that are coming forward".