Wentworth and Dearne MP, John Healey, was at Tesco in Wath to encourage customers to put an extra item in their trolley to donate to Rotherham Foodbank this Christmas.
It’s as food banks across the Trussell Trust network say they are expecting to provide more than one million emergency food parcels between December 2023 and February 2024 – the most parcels ever provided across this period.
Figures from the Trussell Trust reveal that 2,618 food parcels were handed out across Rotherham between April and September this year.
John Healey said: “It’s a real concern that demand for food banks locally has almost trebled in the last three years with over 2,500 parcels handed out over 6 months between April and September.
“I’d encourage people to give what they can to help others locally, whether that’s donating food items or volunteering to help with collections.
“Although I am grateful to food banks, the rise in food poverty and the need for food banks is shameful. We should be looking to put them out of business by ensuring they are no longer required.
“Food banks were set up to provide short-term support to people in an emergency, they are not a lasting solution to hunger and poverty.”
Food collected at the store in Wath is used by the Trussell Trust and FareShare and helps people across the borough experiencing food poverty and insecurity.