Sutton food bank feeds 120 families as demand increased in pandemic

Throughout the pandemic Ashfield District Council has supported the Let’s All Eat food bank at Sutton which sends out packages of food weekly to needy families. The items are delivered to homes in the area by volunteers.

The food bank provides fresh food and store cupboard essentials for families that have been referred to the service. The food they receive comes from donations from the public, as well as local and high street businesses.

Over the past 12 months the council says it has provided more than £3,000 in funding to Let’s All Eat and another £15,000 in funding to support to food banks right across the Ashfield district.

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The council also says that Let’s All Eat has also been an ‘essential partner’ in offering Covid Winter Grant funded vouchers and food parcels to Ashfield residents.

Throughout the months of January and February, 2021 the food bank issued parcels and vouchers with a value of over £15,000.

Ashfield District Council CEO, Carol Cooper-Smith visited the Suton food bank recently to see first hand the “vital work” that was being done to help families in the area.

She said “The pandemic has seen a huge increase in demand for families needing support with food, many of these people haven’t accessed the service before but the effect of furlough and job losses has had a noticeable impact on demand.”

Following the CEO’s visit Ashfield District Council staff then donated 200 Easter Eggs that were distributed to Let’s All Eat, Sutton, Mary’s Food Bank, Sutton and Kirkby Storehouse, the Community Foodbank, Kirkby Woodhouse, St. John’s Heritage Centre, Food Bank Selston Church of Christ, Sutton Christian Fellowship and the Stanton Hill Community Help Centre.

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Carol Cooper-Smith added “The response from the council staff has been incredible and we’re pleased to be able to support the food banks and ensure that families using the service had a treat this Easter.

“I also want to take this opportunity to thank the foodbanks across the District for their tremendous efforts this year. They are

delivering a much needed service in our local communities in really difficult times.”

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