Manager Sue Le Friec said the service was busier than ever, helping an average of 68 families every week, and with the current supermarket supply issues on the island, its lacklustre cupboards were ‘beginning to look like Old Mother Hubbard’s’.
‘Desperate is where we’re at,’ she said.
‘The demand is so high at the moment, and the shelves empty quickly even when they’re full. Keeping them topped up is a constant challenge.
‘This time of year we often see a little bit of a dip because I think there’s a lot of people off on holiday or for various unknown reasons. But this year it’s more obvious than previous years.’
Mrs Le Friec said she wondered if the recent supply issues for some supermarkets were partly to blame.
‘With the issues at M&S and Coop, which have impacted other supermarkets as well, and freight boats not getting in, maybe people have found doing their own shopping has been a more stressful experience than usual, so not so many donations have been given.
‘But even just one item, which might not make a huge difference to somebody doing their shop, would make a huge difference to us.’
The service has collection boxes at both Waitrose stores, Alliance, Coop Grand Marche stores and Smilers at Vazon – all of which go directly to the food bank.
‘To be honest we’re looking for almost everything and are grateful for anything,’ said Mrs Le Friec.
‘But particularly we are low on pasta sauce, coffee, tinned fruit, tinned veg, rice pudding, custard, tinned meat, tuna, tomato ketchup, tinned spaghetti, bottles of squash, biscuits, crisps... all the staples.
‘The only things we have are baked beans, soup and porridge – but even those shelves are not overflowing like they usually are.’
Anyone keen to help can also bring donations straight to the food bank at The Cave on Upper Mansell Street, St Peter Port, or find out more at the Welfare Service’s website, https://welfare.gg/index.php/food-bank
The service also has an Amazon wish-list and islanders can go online to send donations straight to the charity’s address.
‘I want to say how appreciative we are of all the support we get and we recognise that possibly some people who might normally donate to us are struggling themselves at the moment and can’t do it,’ said Mrs Le Friec.
‘There is a squeeze on everybody right now and that does sometimes affect our donations, so we’re grateful to those who can and do.’
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