Demand at Wokingham Foodbank remains higher than this time last year, with the organization recording a 130% increase from the previous August in food parcels provided to local residents. To help protect winter reserves, David Wilson Homes, who is building its Ashridge Grange development nearby in Wokingham, has donated £250 to the food bank, aiming to boost food levels when supplies run low over Christmas.
Wokingham Foodbank operates a system of referrals in order to exchange vouchers for food parcels and is open four afternoons a week, up from the usual three to cope with demand and spread footfall across the week. The house builder’s donation will help to cover the costs of purchasing household essentials from the food bank’s wish list, including coffee, fruit squash and cleaning products.
Kimberley Benson, Sales and Marketing Director at David Wilson Southern Counties, commented:
“Foodbanks are already seeing unprecedented levels of usage, with over 320,000 people in the UK turning to local services for the first time.[2] This winter we wanted to help those directly affected in our local community and spread a little bit of hope in time for Christmas. Our donation will alleviate some pressure on Wokingham Foodbank, helping to boost supply levels and prepare for the next few months of demand.”
Annette, spokesperson for Wokingham Food bank, added:
“It shouldn’t be this way, people are left faced with impossible choices about how to spend their money. It isn’t right that households need to fall back on charity to put a meal on the table.
“This donation will make a genuine difference to many residents under our umbrella of support, enabling us to fill the gaps in our supply levels. We would like to extend our thanks to David Wilson Southern Counties for its donation and encourage anyone who can give any spare food or warm items this winter to reach out to us to offer support.”
To find out more about the Wokingham Foodbank, please visit https://wokingham.foodbank.org.uk/.