 |
Stephen Metcalfe MP with Basildon Foodbank manager, Victor Oladele, and local
volunteers.
|
After visiting Pitsea
foodbank last week, Stephen Metcalfe, local MP for South Basildon and East
Thurrock, has praised the many volunteers who make their work possible.
Run by The Trussell Trust
foodbanks helped to feed 346,992 people nationwide in 2012-13 by providing food
parcels to those most in need. The Trust partner with local churches and
communities to open distribution centres and their goals is to have one in
every town.
A complex array of
circumstances has led to the need for foodbanks including the rising cost of food
and unemployment. The local MP hopes believes one of the solutions lies in
increasing employment and hopes that falling unemployment will help get people
back on their feet and less reliant on the services provided by foodbanks.
Mr Metcalfe commented:
“Whilst I am extremely thankful for the work of foodbanks, I want to see a
country that has no need for them. One of the keys to this is getting those
that can work back into employment. There are already 1.25million more people
in jobs since we took office thanks to schemes such as the Work Programme but
there is still more to be done.”
“I am pleased that the
government is committed to tackling unemployment and I hope that in the long
term it may ease some of the burden placed on foodbanks.”
Pitsea foodbank is run
largely by volunteers who give up their time to help others whilst also gaining
invaluable skills.
The local MP added:
“Without volunteers giving out food and working hard to sort and collect it,
foodbanks couldn’t function. I would like to thank all those who involved in
this process at Pitsea and would like to encourage anyone who is interested in
getting involved to do so! They are always on the lookout for new recruits and
you could help make an invaluable contribution to those in need.”
For further information about how
you can get involved or to find out more about the foodbank please see: http://basildon.foodbank.org.uk/contact
