News Archive - September 2012

Dunstable Deanery Food Bank

In the past two years there has been a rapid expansion in the number of Food Banks in this country, including one run by churches in the Dunstable Deanery. This is in response to growing numbers of people unable to feed themselves or their families as a result of rising living costs, shrinking incomes and welfare benefit cuts. Cuts to the Social Fund, which provides emergency aid to vulnerable people, mean that from April 2013 many councils will no longer provide cash help to applicants. Instead they will offer "in kind" support such as referring clients to Food Banks and issuing electronic food vouchers.

Food Banks rely on donations to provide their service. The Food Bank prepares balanced food packs made up of tinned and dried food. We plan that St Mary's should become a satellite drop-off point for such items including:

Tinned meat, fish, soup, fruit and vegetables, Baked Beans, Spaghetti, Rice Pudding, Dried Pasta & Rice, Pasta Sauce, Breakfast Cereal, Biscuits, Long Life Juice & Milk, Teabags / Coffee, Sugar, Cup-a-Soup, Jam

Ours is one of the richest countries in the world, but income inequality is growing faster here than in any other rich nation. In a country where a footballer gets paid £200k a month, some people have no other choice but to go to a food bank. If you feel this situation is wrong, that no-one should ever need go to bed hungry or cold, or queue in line for tins of beans to feed their family, then do write to your MP.

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