Food for thought as Heywood Foodbank runs low on stock

Councillor Richard Farnell speaks out as Heywood Foodbank runs low on stock

Staff at a Heywood Foodbank have been forced to buy food themselves because stock was running low.

This shortage had nothing to do with a lack of donations because the scheme is well supported by the Heywood community, supermarkets and businesses, it is simply because of the sheer number of people needing help and support with their weekly food shop.

The volunteers said they are finding all donations handed in go out again immediately in parcels leaving the cupboard bare every week.

In October alone, they provided emergency food parcels which feed 780 adults and 434 children.

Councillor Richard Farnell, the leader of Rochdale Borough Council, has spoken out, he said: “Foodbanks are a life-saver, sometimes quite literally, but I despair that we even need them in this day and age.

“Why a country as rich as ours gets itself into a position where so many of our residents are turning to free food handouts is depressing. This is compounded by the fact that a significant number of those are in full time work as public sector professionals.”

The council leader was outraged when a government minister recently said the public were lucky to have food banks to help them.

He sadi: “Of course these people would struggle even more if our  food banks were not in place.

"That is not lucky; it should never have ever been allowed to happen in the first place.”