Taking January and February 2020 as a baseline for demand at Rye Food Bank, about 153 people in crisis were helped each month.
When Covid 19 hit us last March, numbers increased rapidly to a peak of 1,054 in June last year and many of these people were suddenly thrown into crisis due to job losses and businesses going broke.
The majority of jobs in Rye and district are serviced based and these jobs have been hit hardest. We had all sorts of service job holders who suddenly found themselves without income for the first time in their lives and taxi drivers, photographers, hairdressers, cleaners, restaurant and bar staff were particularly badly hit, as well as staff employed at Pontins and holiday parks when they suddenly closed.
Lockdown pushes up numbers
After the peak of last summer, Food Bank numbers slowly declined to around 200 each month until the beginning of the second lockdown when demand rose again to around 600 per month. In March 2021, the number of people helped was 636 and there were as many children as adults.
Since Christmas 2021 demand has remained consistent at around 600 a month, but we can only speculate what the future may be. We have an almost equal number of adults and children, indicating young families who remain in difficulty. Each week we receive one or two emergency requests from new clients finding themselves in crisis.
Where people are unable to visit the Food Bank, due to lack of transport or ill health, we continue to deliver. This week we delivered 24 food parcels, of which 14 were in Rye and 10 in Peasmarsh, Beckley and Northiam.
Around £1,500 a week needed for stocks
We are currently spending around £1,500 per week to keep the stores adequately stocked and no-one knows how long this level of costs may have to be sustained.
Donating to your local food bank is one of the best ways you can help your community at this time. Every donation is appreciated, no matter how large or small. Financial donations help us maintain balanced and adequate stocks and it is easy to send us money or bring cash.
All donations directly benefit members of your local community. We do not spend anything benefitting anyone outside our local area.
Contact details for Rye Food Bank
Phone: 07526 349847 or email: ryefoodbank@gmail.com
We are open at the Baptist hall, behind the church in Cinque Ports Street in Rye on Wednesdays from 9am for donations and the food bank is open from 1pm until 3pm. The Rye Food Bank phone number is not manned all the time, but you can leave a message and we will respond. Email is better and this is monitored several times during the day and in the evening.
Donations make a big difference
Monetary donations can be sent to the Bexhill Food Bank Rye Branch at Barclays Bank, sort code 20-54-25, account number 83501116, through the Jempson Foundation or cheques to Rye Food Bank c/o 24 North Salts, Rye. If you donate via the Jempson Foundation and are a taxpayer, gift aid can be applied, thereby increasing the value of the donation by 25% at no cost to the donor.
If you make a bank transfer please do send us a message (via ryefoodbank@gmail.com) so we know who it is from and can send a receipt, if required.
If you need help from Rye Food Bank, contact Rother District Citizens Advice (CAB) on 01424 215055; email: help@rotherdistrictcab.org.uk, or the Hastings Advice & Representation Centre (HARC) on 0333 344 0681; email: info@harcuk.com.
Image Credits: Rye Food Bank .