Chesterfield food bank fears winter shortfall as demand for services soar

Before the pandemic, Chesterfield Food Bank, part of the Trussell Trust, operated from four centres in the area. This has now been reduced to two due to the impact of the virus.

But project co-ordinator Pat Evans hopes the generosity of churches, supermarkets and organisations like the Rotary Club will help to see them through the tough winter ahead.

He said: “Immediately the pandemic struck and we lost volunteers, many of whom are older and needed to shield, so we had to close two of our operations.”

Almost all of the people and families supported are referred to the food bank via agencies. One in every three were referred by the local Job Centre, which also closed its doors.

Pat said: “We had to change the way we operated. We lost the scope to meet, greet and chat with those in need.

"Instead we took vouchers by email and people collected bags of food from our doorsteps. That was hard for everyone – we offer more than food. We give help, advice and a listening ear and that really matters.

“Thankfully we started with good stock levels, but they were quickly depleted.

"It has been the generosity of the general public, supermarkets and Rotary that has seen us through.

"Morrisons, Asda and Tesco have been brilliant. Then our local Rotary Clubs in Bolsover, Chesterfield and Scarsdale stepped in with big donations to buy vital food supplies to meet demand.”

The food bank has benefited from a new lifeline, Rotary4foodbanks, which is a regionwide scheme that pools funds and buys food at bulk discounted prices and has pledged to support Chesterfield throughout the coming winter.

With traditional harvest festivals being put on hold this year, Pat is confident that they will receive enough extra help to see them through.

Pat added: “There is a lot of anxiety out there among people struggling to get by and fearing job losses or reduced working hours, which will put even more pressure on already stretched family finances. We know things are going to get tougher as winter approaches. We’re here to help.”

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Nancy Fielder, editor.