The UK’s biggest network of food banks, The Trussell Trust has launched an emergency appeal as it is set to spend millions of pounds this winter on charity food parcels following a rise in families looking for help amid the cost-of-living crisis.
The charity expects to be distributing 1.3 million emergency food parcels to its members within the next six months and has already used up its reserve stock, according to reporting by The Guardian.
This comes as a result of the need for food banks being outstripped by public food donations as consumers look to save money on their own weekly food shops following price rises impacted by inflation, which rose to 10.1% this month.
As a result, The Trussell Trust launched an emergency appeal today (20 October), as it hopes to receive more donations.
“We never wanted to run an appeal like this, we would rather there was no need for food banks at all. But right now, they are on the frontline of this cost of living emergency – we have no other option,” The Trussell Trust CEO, Emma Revie said.
“Faced with the perfect storm of rising energy prices, inflation and a potential recession that is pushing people deeper into poverty, the soaring cost of living is driving a tsunami of need to food banks.”
She added: “Through this emergency appeal we hope to raise the vital funds required to ensure that food banks can meet this devastating rise in need and continue to support people who are experiencing hardship.”
In response to the appeal, leading retailer Tesco has donated a new £1m support package to be split between the Trussell Trust and FareShare in a bid to help the charities meet the current unprecedented demand and soaring operating costs.
