With the removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift, Keynsham Foodbank says like others around the country, it is getting ready to help an increasing number of people, many of whom never thought they would ever need such help.
The team say that the biggest cut in welfare payments since the Second World War comes at a time of significant increases in fuel bills, the end of the last stages of furlough, and the removal of eviction protection for renters.
Garry Wheadon, project manager at Keynsham Foodbank, said: “The volunteer team at Keynsham Foodbank often take calls from people in urgent need of food. If you, a friend, family member or colleague need our help, please do not wait until the cupboard is bare. You do not need to sell the TV. If you need us, we are here for you.
“The Keynsham Foodbank team are as ready as we can be for what we think will be a difficult and busy autumn and winter. We are anticipating significant increases in local people in our community in food crisis.”
To further support local people, the third Keynsham Foodbank centre at Victoria Methodist Church in the centre of town is set to reopen its doors for collection of food parcels from Monday (18th October).
Earlier this summer, the Keynsham Foodbank volunteer team restarted their ‘collect-from-our-door’ service at St Mary’s in Saltford, swiftly followed by St Francis in Keynsham in September. The reopening of Victoria marks the final stage in Keynsham Foodbank’s reopening for collection and return to usual.
Keynsham Foodbank’s collect-at-our-door service for clients with eVouchers is available at the following times:
Mondays 10am to noon, Victoria (side entrance on Charlton Road), Keynsham.
Thursdays 10am to noon, St Francis, Keynsham.
Fridays 10.15am to 11.45am, from St Mary’s Hall, Saltford.
How to get help from Keynsham Foodbank
Details of how to receive an eVoucher from one of the many referral agencies we work with, are on the Keynsham Foodbank and Facebook page.
How to help
If you would like to give help, the latest ‘most wanted’ items can be found at www.keynsham.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-food/
To donate money (bank details have changed recently), it’s Keynsham Foodbank 60-12-11, new account number 26725592.
Gift Aid makes a huge difference and turns every £1 donated into £1.25 for the charity. Gift Aid can be claimed on donations made over the previous four years. This simple form takes less than a minute to complete – https://keynsham.foodbank.org.uk/gift-aid-form/
