Scarborough’s Rainbow Centre food bank is currently spending approximately £2,000 a month on food to meet the increasing demand from people struggling with the rising cost of living.
The charity run food bank says it is experiencing a greater need to purchase food because people who previously would donate extra items at supermarkets are no longer able to afford to do so.
According to Rainbow Centre CEO Jo Laking, these costs are continually escalating as supermarket prices increase.
Jo Laking explained,
"People who would normally chuck an extra tin of beans or a pack of biscuit in their trolley and put it in our collection baskets they just can't afford to do it and we understand completely because we're all facing that".
Consequently, the Rainbow Centre has to ensure it has sufficient funds to buy food, as the number of individuals relying on their services is growing. Jo highlighted that many of those seeking assistance are working people whose wages are insufficient to cover their expenses until their next paycheque and who have families and children to feed.
The pressure on the food bank is compounded by a decrease in donations. Jo Laking stated that
"as the cost of living crisis hits, people are less likely to donate money to us and people are less likely to donate food for us at the supermarkets".
The growing reliance on the food bank is visibly impacting the organisation. Laking, whose office overlooks the food bank, described the increasing queues as "scary". She recounted a particularly emotional moment,
A great deal of the Centre’s activity is focused on the donation of food, the storage of food, food preparation and food service. The centre provides flexible emergency food parcels for anyone who needs them and runs drop in sessions on a Wednesday and Friday from 9am – 2pm.
There is more information at https://therainbowcentre.org/food/
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