New figures released this week by the Trussell Trust reveal that 128,490 emergency food parcels were provided by food banks in the Trussell Trust network in Scotland between April and September 2023.
This is the highest number of parcels our network has ever distributed in 6 months. This is a 9% increase compared to the same time last year!
Horrifyingly in East Lothian we’ve seen a 21% increase compared to last year.
We gave out emergency essentials to 6,634 people who couldn’t afford the essentials in 6 months, and 2,383 of these were children.
This isn’t right and we can’t allow this to go on.
No one should need the support of our food bank because everyone in our local community should be able to live lives free from hardship and poverty.
And it will get worse – unless the UK & Scottish Governments step up.
Together with food banks across the Trussell Trust network, we are calling for MPs across the UK to support a social security system that guarantees our essentials, by making sure that the basic rate of Universal Credit is at least enough to afford the essentials we all need to live.
📝 Please support the campaign by writing to your local MP and signing our petition, please click here to find out more.
Together, we can ensure help is here for everyone who needs it in our community, whilst we also collectively work towards a more just future where no one needs our food bank to get by.
As we navigate these challenging times and do our utmost to meet the increasing need for our services, we would be most grateful if you could support our winter appeal by:
- picking up one of our essential items and popping it in one of our donation points
or - shopping online from our winter essentials list at ForCommonGood or on Amazon
or - buying a virtual parcel
or - making a donation
Or perhaps you have some spare time and would like to volunteer for us.
We recognise how difficult times are right now, which is why we really appreciate all and any support you are able to offer. Together, we can ensure help is here for everyone who needs it in our community, whilst we also collectively work towards a more just future where no one needs our food bank to get by.