LONDON Carrots, cabbage, potatoes. Bread, oil, sugar. Toilet paper and dishwashing liquid…
A gray and drizzly Thursday morning in South London. Volunteers from the Earlsfield Food Bank unpack a supermarket consignment bought with donated funds at the roadside.
– We used to have a lot of extra food left in the warehouse. Now everything is fine, says the executive director of the food bank Charlotte White.
On the side of Sainsbury’s van, the store chain’s old advertising slogan reads: Live well for less.
Once a week, a local charity turns St. Andrew’s Church into a food bank, where more than a hundred households can pick up a bag of food and breakfast.
Just a couple of years ago, there were a couple dozen households in need of food assistance. During the past year, the number of people in need here, as everywhere in Britain, has exploded.
One of them is a 27-year-old housewife Kirstywho has only recently started visiting the Earlsfield food bank.
In recent months, Kirsty and her husband have had to go without food for three days on several occasions.
– We risk our own health so that my son gets enough food. He is of course the priority, says Kirsty.
He does not want to give his last name because of the sensitivity of his situation.
A record number of Britons now have to rely on food banks, according to a report by the Independent Food Aid Network umbrella organization at the turn of the year from the settlement (you switch to another service). Almost 90 percent of the country’s food banks have experienced an increase in demand and are now worried about how to meet the ever-growing need.
All over Europe and in Finland too, we are struggling with similar problems. In this story in February, reported about the extended bread line in Myllypuro, Helsinki.
Food prices in Finland were 15.4 percent higher in January than a year ago. In Britain, the figure is 16.7 percent.
In addition, gas, which many Britons use for heating, has become more expensive by 130 percent.
There has been talk of a cost of living crisis in Britain for a couple of years now. In addition to the Russian war of aggression and the corona pandemic, it has also been affected by the extensive economic effects of Brexit.
Rising energy costs have turned off the gas tap in Kirsty’s family home. The family has dyed in their apartment through the winter without heating.
– We have to dress inside in layers. This, in turn, results in more laundry, which, however, consumes more energy. This is a huge vicious circle, says Kirsty.
He has never experienced a similar situation before in his life. It will still leave its mark on a whole generation, Kirsty believes.
– The government just fills its own pockets and leaves us in the cold. It’s ridiculous and makes me so angry. The government is not doing enough for anyone.
The former cook of the Parliament now goes to the food bank
In Britain, the need for food assistance has grown among young families with children and also among the elderly.
Pensioner Norman Dennis moved to London as a young man from his native South Africa and worked for years as a cook in the Houses of Parliament.
Dennis has noticed the increase in food prices since the corona pandemic.
– I have to make sacrifices. I don’t live big, I shop where you can get food very cheap, says Dennis.
The pension is not enough to live on, so on Thursday mornings the former chef and his spouse pick up a bag of food from the Earlsfield food bank. They also take food to their neighbors who are too unwell to come there themselves.
Dennis is still grateful to the government, which helps people in need not only in Britain but also abroad: in Ukraine and in the earthquake zones of Turkey and Syria.
– Some say that the government does not support people enough. I don’t ask for much myself. I get what I get.
Nurses have their own food banks
With a customer at Earlsfield Food Bank With Evi Webb has three children to take care of at home, the youngest of which is only a seven-month-old baby.
Gas is too expensive, so this winter a portable electric radiator has been purchased to heat the apartment.
Just a few months ago, Webb spent £20 on a shopping trip. Now £70-80 is spent on the same amount of food, but profits have not increased at all, says Webb.
– It doesn’t matter whether the person is employed or unemployed. It’s hard for everyone now, he says.
The food bank’s employees and volunteers have also noticed the change in the customer base. Executive director Charlotte White lists the new customer base: families with children and working people such as drivers, shop workers and nurses.
– This is very worrying. Many people come here now with mortgages. We’ve never seen anything like that before, says White.
The same has also been observed nationwide. Last winter’s extensive strike wave has partly started from the emergency, where wages in many sectors have not kept pace with inflation for a long time.
As a new phenomenon to several hospitals (you switch to another service) employees’ own food banks have been established.
Every Thursday, a food shipment goes from the Earlsfield food bank to the employees of the nearby St. George’s Hospital, who do not have time to pick up the food bag themselves during their work shift.
People’s distress has deepened
The suffering and lack experienced by people has not only increased, but also deepened, says executive director White.
In the past, it was rare for hungry people to come to the food bank. Now, White constantly hears stories from his customers about scavenging food or not eating for days in order to feed even the children.
– This is a crisis. A huge crisis.
According to White, the additional subsidies granted by the government for the increased energy and food bills are not enough, and the aid often does not reach those in the greatest need.
The benefits distributed to low-income people for basic subsistence are at least 140 pounds less than what would be needed for basic subsistence at current prices, says The Guardian magazine (you will switch to another service) from a recent report.
At the Earlsfield food bank, people get not only food, but also advice from various organizations on debt issues, getting an apartment and applying for subsidies.
According to White, there is no relief in sight for people’s plight.
– I believe that the situation will only get worse this year. I keep thinking that the bottom has now been reached, but then the situation gets even worse.
By noon on Thursday, the grocery bags have been distributed, the breakfasts have been eaten, and St. Andrew’s Church has emptied of customers.
Volunteers sweep the church floor and carry empty food boxes into piles.
In a week, everything starts again.
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