The amount of people who used Harrogate’s food bank more than doubled when lockdown was introduced and volunteers fear another spike could be on the way when measures are lifted.
Figures from The Trussell Trust show that from March 13 until March 31 this year, the facility at Mowbray Community Church, West Moreland Street, saw 224 people collect food – a 146% increase on the same period last year.
The food bank also saw its busiest ever session on the first Friday of lockdown as 90 people came to collect within two hours.
Jan Bathurst, who has been team leader at the facility for the past seven years, said she feared there will be more who need support after lockdown as the economy struggles.
Donations which have been made to the food bank at Mowbray Community Church on Westmoreland Street.
“I think demand will go up after lockdown and we will see another spike,” she said.
Among those who needed support were people on zero hours contracts and families with children on free school meals.
Others included the self-employed, people with mental health problems and those struggling with debt.
Meanwhile, social distancing measures have been put in place at the facility to keep both volunteers and those who need the food bank safe.
The food bank now pre-packs food for people who have been referred to them by bodies such as Citizens’ Advice to collect.
Jan Bathurst, Team Leader at the Harrogate District Food Bank.
Those referred to the facility are also no longer allowed into the church to collect their packages or have a coffee with volunteers.
Instead, a table is placed in front of the entrance where food is handed over to them on collection.
Helen Ketteringham, who has volunteered at the food bank since it was opened in 2013, said the lockdown has been tough to deal with.
“It was a shock for everybody,” she said.
“A lot of the volunteers at the food bank are elderly and they had to stay at home to be shielded.”
Currently, the food bank operates on a team of 12 who help to prepare packages and distribute them.
Donations have also continued to come into the facility, with the majority of food being offered by the public.
