This week, the food bank has seen a slight increase in demand as we had 68 orders, representing help for 108 adults and 106 children, and 60% of the users of the Rye Food Bank are families with children.
Before the lockdown most of these families were in work and many have never had reason in their working life to ask for help.
Single parent households are particularly at risk of needing a food bank – across Sussex they are almost two times more prevalent among households seeking help from food banks compared to the general population – and 41% of the family orders referred to Rye Food Bank are for single parent families.
Before lockdown, many families claiming Universal Credit were in part time work in jobs in retail, hospitality and cleaning and, as the lockdown is beginning to ease, some are finding these jobs no longer exist. It is vital that Rye Food Bank continues to be able to support those in our community who need help after lockdown ends and we may find, due to the number of jobs in retail and hospitality being lost, that there is even greater demand.
Donating to Rye Food Bank is one of the most important ways you can support your community at this time. Thanks to everyone who is helping us meet this increased demand.
Please keep your donations coming. This week we need more meat products (corned beef, stew, hot dogs), vegan and vegetarian products, vegetables, soya milk and fruit – and we are low on supplies of toothpaste.
Donations of non-perishable, in-date tinned food can be received at the back of the Baptist Church in Cinque Ports Street in Rye on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10am until about 2pm and are very welcome.
Monetary donations can be sent to the Bexhill Food Bank Rye Branch at Barclays Bank, sort code 20-54-25, account number 83501116, 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.
You can contact Rye Foodbank at Ryefoodbank@gmail.com.
Image Credits: Mags Ivatts .