Foodbank users across Gwent speak of gratitude to volunteers

Every single day people, not just across Gwent but throughout the country, go hungry.

To combat hunger people have turned to foodbanks, which have popped up across the UK, with dedicated volunteers handing out donated food parcels.

Gabi, who lives in Newport, is just one of many people who relies on a foodbank to provide food for her family.

“I started to use it in February once I became ill,” she said.

“In February I became unable to walk which obviously affected me being able to work.

“I have children and I was so worried of how I was going to be able to provide for them. I can now walk again but it is a difficult.”

Gabi said she was that desperate she searched online to find out what help was available.

She said: “That is when I found out about Christchurch and the foodbanks. I had not heard of foodbanks before this.

“I got in touch with the one in Duffryn and asked for help. They instantly gave help.

It has been a hard time for us.”

Gabi praised the foodbanks, not only for providing food aid, but also emotional support.

“They have been fantastic with us and have given us a listening ear for our problems,” said Gabi.

“I am not sure what we would have done without them if I can be honest.”

She added that she wanted people to know that they should not feel embarrassed for using a foodbank.

“In the beginning it was embarrassing,” Gabi said. “You think of what other people must be thinking.

“But now I do not care. I use a foodbank so there you go.

“If you need to use one you really should. You should not put it off because you might be embarrassed.

“I would like to thank Christchurch for all the help they have given me and my family.”

According to recent statistics, Gabi is one of a growing number of people who are using foodbanks.

Figures from the charity Trussell Trust show a steady increase in food bank usage across Gwent.

From April to September 2016 1,628 food parcels were delivered in Blaenau Gwent which rose to 2,003 the following year, Caerphilly rose from 2,529 to 2,624, Newport rose from 1,242 to 1,439, Torfaen also rose from 2,863 to 2,883. Monmouth was the only area of Gwent to see a fall in food parcel deliveries from 1,139 to 1,007.

Lucy Hughes, who lives in Pill, is another person who has no choice but to use a food bank.

“When I first went to a foodbank I felt low,” said the 25-year-old. “I kept hoping that no-one would recognise me.

“I kept thinking ‘why do I have to use a foodbank to support my family’.

“My friends do not know I use one. I’m too embarrassed to tell them. Even if I did tell them, where would I start?”

The single parent, who used to live in Cwmbran, said she does work full-time but added her income is not enough to support her family.

She said: “I work full-time in a corner shop but it’s not enough to support my three children. I’m a single parent and all my money goes on them but it is still not enough.

“I go a lot of times to the foodbank to get food for my children.

“I’m not sure how we would cope without the food bank.”

Miss Hughes said she “doubted” she would be celebrating Christmas.

She said: “How can I celebrate Christmas when we are going through this?

“Thankfully my children are quite young so they will not know a lot.

“I plan to be working part of Christmas day anyway, just to get some extra money.”

Single father-of-three Shaun Roberts, who works as a part-time builder, said he hoped he would be able to stop using foodbanks “soon”.

He said: “I had no choice but to start using a foodbank. It must be about six months ago when I started a centre in Monmouth.

“Simply my wages alone are not enough to support my family. When my wife left that is when things got particularly bad because now there is only one wage coming in to support my children.

“My mum will be retiring soon and then can help look after my children. When that happens I can go back to work full-time which is when I can stop going to a foodbank.”

Mr Roberts said he would “always be grateful” to the people who have made food donations.

“If it was not for people donating then there would not be any foodbanks,” said the 40-year-old.

“I have had people say go get benefits if you need help. But the benefits would not arrive on time to help me.

“It is fantastic to see the items donated from caring people. Believe me, when you are feeling low and you see the food it does touch your heart.”

Another foodbank user, who did not wish to be named, added that he wanted to show his gratitude to people who have donated food items.

He said: “We do not choose to use foodbanks, we are forced to use them.

“I do not want to say who I am or where I live because I do not want people knowing that I use a foodbank. I’m not married but I need to use a foodbank so I can eat.

“I find it difficult to say without getting upset, but thank you to everyone who helps us - especially the volunteers.”

Conference director Jon Slocombe, of Christchurch Centre in Malpas, said the group had recently collected 3.2 tonnes of food aid.

He said: "We collected that amount during a recent collection at two Tesco stores in Newport. I would like to say a big thank you to everyone - including Bassaleg school, Caerleon High, Charles Williams CIW Primary Caerleon, Clytha Primary, Gaer Primary, Glasllwch Primary, High Cross Primary, Maes Ebbw School, Malpas CIW Infants, Malpas Court Primary

Millbrook Primary, Mount Pleasant Primary, Rougemont School, St. Gabriel's Primary, St. Julian's High, St Mary's RC Primary, St David's RC Primary, Woodlands Community Primary School, Wycliff Independant Christian School,Ysgol Gymraeg Bro Teyrnon and Ysgol Gymraeg Casnewydd.

“Our other centres, which are part of Trussell Trust, continue to help a lot of people. It is a privilege to help and provide assistance to people in desperate situations.

“I think the reason for the rise in foodbank use is linked to low incomes.”

He added: "Our centres had distributed 812 food parcels in April which later rose to 1, 240 by November. The collected food aid is certainly going to help a lot of people."

Volunteers at Raven House Foodbanks, which has three foodbanks in Newport and one in Caldicot, also help a lot of people.

James Taylor, who is a supervisor for Raven House Foodbanks, said "anyone and everyone" can help.

He said: "Our parcels typically contain baked beans, spaghetti, tined tomatoes, tinned vegetables, tinned potatoes, tinned fish, tinned meat, tinned fruit, custard or rice pudding, packet of rice or pasta, jar of pasta sauce or curry sauce and tinned soups.

"We’re looking for more donations, especially since our one centre, in Cromwell Road, has seen an increase from 60 people in September to 111 in November."

For more information on food banks, visit www.ravenhouse.org and www.trusselltrust.org