Kingfisher foodbank supports close to 1000 people in last year.

URGENT NEED: Families feeling the pinch in North Solihull
have turned to foodbanks for support.

THE Kingfisher foodbank has helped more than 800 adults and children in need since it was launched 12 months ago.
The service was set up in 2013 to help feed families who “have fallen into crisis”, with more than 6300kg of food dished out to local people. The amount is equal in weight to a male African elephant.
Churches, schools and Tesco supermarkets across North Solihull and East Birmingham are among those to have donated dried and canned goods to the cause.
Rev Jo Johnson, chair of Kingfisher Foodbank, said: “I am delighted with all the hard work of the volunteers and the generosity of people who have helped us provide people in crisis with food over the past year.”
The Trussell Trust, the largest food bank provider in the UK, revealed last month that there had been a “shocking” rise in the number of people who had turned to the lifeline service.
The number of food parcels handed out nationwide rose by more than 50 per cent to 913,000 in 2013.
Chris Mould, the charity’s chairman, said: “Perhaps most worrying of all this figure is just the tip of the iceberg of UK food poverty, it doesn’t include those helped by other emergency food providers, those living in towns where there is no foodbank, people who are too ashamed to seek help or the large number of people who are only just coping by eating less and buying cheap food.”
Solihull’s Citizens Advice Bureau confirmed last year that Solihull had not escaped the difficulties reported nationwide, with a huge surge in demand for food parcels.
Some have blamed recent welfare reforms for the increase in people who are struggling to manage, but these claims have been denied by the Government.
A celebration service, to mark the foodbank’s first anniversary, will be held on Sunday (May 18) at St Barnabus Church, Kingshurst. It starts at 3pm.
To find out more about the foodbank – how to make a donation or get support – visit their website.