Warwick and Leamington Covid-19 group launches appeal to help foodbank

The Warwick and Leamington Covid-19 Help Group has launched an emergency appeal in support of the Warwick District Foodbank.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for food parcels has increased.

This is said to be due to fewer free school meals being provided coupled with a rise in the number of people awaiting Universal Credit payments. At the same time there has also been a drop in food donations.

To try and help the foodbank the help group have set up a fundraising page to try and raise money so the team at the foodbank can buy essential food items for the people they help.

Cllr Helen Adkins, who represents Leamington Willes at Warwickshire County Council and is one of the organisers, said: “We are very concerned that local families are going hungry at this very difficult time.

"People haven’t stopped caring, but they have changed their shopping habits due to the risk of infection, and this has unfortunately been to the detriment of the Foodbank.

"We hope that by launching this appeal, we can enable people to make the donations they would normally make as part of their weekly shop, in cash instead.”

Warwick District Foodbank currently needs to produce around 160 boxes a week of essential food at a total cost of around £4,500 a week or £18,000 a month.

The fundraising page was created last Friday (April 10) and as of Tuesday (April 14 ) morning the page had raised £2,245.

To donate to the page go to: http://www.gofundme.com/warwickfoodbankcovid19For further information about the Warwick and Leamington COVID-19 Help Group, go to: https://warwickleamingtoncovidhelp.wordpress.com/If anyone needs help and can’t get online, they can call 01926 674065 and leave a message and they will get a call back.