Foodbanks in Bournemouth and Poole are being spread thin

Dorset charities say food donations are dropping – as more people are relying on them.

Bournemouth based Hope For Food and Poole Foodbank Plus say it’s a becoming a struggle to provide meals to needy families across the county as the cost-of-living crisis continues.

Over the past two years foodbanks across the UK are receiving fewer donations as the amount of people who need food parcels increases.

Independent Food Aid Network has said in 2022 72% of foodbanks reported a drop in donations in the UK.

Leslie Watt, secretary of Hope For Food, a Bournemouth charity which hands out food parcels and gives out community meals twice a week, said it was “becoming a struggle to get to everyone”.

Leslie said the amount of food they need to give out has gone from 60 meals every Thursday and Sunday to between 80 and 100, but the amount of food being donated is going down.

The lack of donations isn’t the only thing worrying Hope For Food. As the winter draws closer its becoming harder to find shelter to hand out community meals as places are reluctant to let them in.

Leslie said: “Its miserable for the volunteers and for the clients.”

Gill Payne, the manager for Poole Foodbank Plus, said that because of the harvest they are getting more food now than they do all year.

However, before the October to December push, they were getting fewer food donations than they usually would and more people needing it.

Gill said: “As the winter draws on, it’s going to get harder and harder.”

According to both charities the best thing people can do is donate any cans they can.

Leslie said: “We’d prefer to have lots of people donate two cans each than one person come with a bag.”

If you want to help please contact Hope For Food at Hope For Food – Helping hands, when we’re most needed or Poole Foodbank Plus at Poole Food Bank+ providing more than just food. (faith-works.org.uk)