Food banks should only ever be an emergency response

Ahead of Food Bank Day (Friday 6 September), The Salvation Army is warning that the Government needs to do more to support families that are finding themselves pushed into poverty and relying on support from food banks as many Salvation Army churches report seeing people who once donated food in the queue for help.

The Salvation Army has over 600 community churches with many seeing first-hand the devastating impact of ever-increasing food, rent and energy prices on households with the lowest incomes.

Michelle, 46, from London has two children and uses the Welling Salvation Army’s community pantry after being diagnosed with osteoarthritis in her knee meaning plans to open up her own childcare business were put on hold. She said: “The food support I receive helps me and my two children so much. I saw a nutritionist as my son is autistic and prefers to eat certain things which increased my food expenses even more but with the help of the community pantry I am able to get food that he likes.

“I like that I can pay £5 and get to choose my ten items as well as some free things like books and clothes. I also get food for my cat from the pantry, which is a big help. It’s good to know that I contribute towards the cost of what’s available. Support like this has made such a massive difference; I feel welcome and at home here.”

Major Jo Moir at The Salvation Army said: “Food banks used to be emergency pit stops for people who needed help getting on back on their feet. Now, families rely on them weekly as they can’t afford the basic essentials. Salvation Army officers report that they see people in work as well as those receiving benefits living hand to mouth and have no choice but to regularly rely on our food banks and community stores.

“Across the UK, The Salvation Army has been stepping in to help desperate families that are at breaking point and living hand to mouth, but food banks should only ever be an emergency response, and they only provide short-term relief. We need the Government at the very least to make sure benefits properly cover the cost of housing, food and other basic essentials – and to remove the two-child benefit limit. We would love to see the end of food banks, but until Government takes urgent action to tackle the deep-rooted poverty we see all over the UK, I fear the need for food banks will continue to grow.”

While many Salvation Army churches and centres run traditional food banks, its church leaders across the UK are finding innovative ways of helping through various new-style food provisions including pantries, food clubs and social supermarkets running alongside the typical food bank in local communities.

These include:

• The Salvation Army in Old Swan, Liverpool, which runs a weekly ‘Open Table’ allowing visitors to browse a selection of products and choose which are right for them based on their requirements and needs, as well as their own tastes.
• A Community Pantry at its church and community centre in Welling, supported by Church Action on Poverty, which costs just £5 per visit allowing people to choose 10 items including fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products and household cleaning products. People can also choose five free items from a selection of books, crafts, clothes, and crockery. 
• Canvey Island Salvation Army recently launched its mobile community supermarket, ‘Stuff on a Bus’ where customers can get discounted food from a refurbished double-decker bus. Touring the area two days a week making multiple stops, people can get access to the mobile supermarket for an annual sign-up fee of just £5, they then have the opportunity to buy items at a greatly reduced price.

If you want to donate to a Salvation Army food bank, please check which local churches run them using this map.

To make a general donation towards our work supporting people through the cost of living crisis click here.