Food bank saves local community from poverty

A local food bank has helped over 150 people since it opened two months ago, including a man who hadn’t eaten for four days.

The Methil food bank has helped to combat hunger amongst those badly affected by rising utility charges and cuts to the welfare system.

Other recipients of aid at the bank included a family of seven who were malnourished and a single mother who had recently been made redundant for the first time. She talked of embarrassment at having to go to the food bank, but said it was a necessity to make sure she and her child survived.

Alison Nelson, who helps run the food bank, said people often turned up having not eaten for a number of days.

“There have been a number of people who hadn’t eaten for two or three days and then the poor man who hadn’t eaten for four. I wouldn’t say that the majority haven’t eaten, but it does happen.

“It’s even more common that parents go without food so that their children can eat what little they have. They’re often depressed, low and embarrassed.”

The bank, which is run in a partnership between Leven Baptist Church and other churches in the area, receives donations of food from local supermarkets including Sainsbury’s and Asda. The large uptake of recipients is reflected in national statistics which show a 170% rise in the number of users of food banks in the last 12 months.

Fife Council’s area committee gave £8,100 in funding to the project after hearing about how many people had turned up to the food bank for help.

Local independent councillor Andrew Rodger claimed the food bank was the inevitable side effect to the coalition government’s policies.

“We all have to look after the most vulnerable in our society. People are now having to make the choice of paying council tax, putting on the heating or feeding their family. The increase on bills, such as heating, has a huge impact on families.”

The food bank is located in the church hall on Bowling Green Street in Methil and encourages anyone in need to come along. 

 

 

If you need help, you can find your local foodbank here.