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Report and article by the ITV Granada Reports correspondent Mel Barham |
The number of people suffering from food poverty has increased dramatically over the past year.
The loss of jobs, livelihoods, increased fuel bills, and children at home have left many families struggling to put food on the table.
And while there are food banks for crisis victims, many people do not want to use these services but simply cannot afford the weekly grocery store.
It is a desperate situation that hundreds and thousands of people have found themselves in over the past year.
A school principal has decided to do something about it.
Dr. Antony Edkins, former headmaster of Harrop Fold School and Manchester Academy, originally had the idea to raise enough money to support 50 families in Salford over Christmas and Easter.
But that idea came up when he realized the extent of the problem.
I can only go on with what families say to us. They tell us that they are broke, they tell us that there is not enough money to feed the children. They live on air and water and that is not acceptable.
Dr. Antony Edkins, founder of the Salford Family in Need Meal Project
He continued to shape Salford Families in Need Meal Project With the assistance of Local Representatives Barbara Keeley and Rebecca Long-Bailey, Councilor Samantha Bellamy, Julie Larkinson (Rotary Club of Eccles), Victoria Unsworth (Principal Barton Moss School), and Tom Marsden (Regional Director of Community Hire).
And from there they teamed up with – The bread and butter thing – one of the UK’s leading food redistribution organizations – to expand the charity’s affordable food supply across the city.
Food packages are packed by staff and volunteers from the charity The Bread and Butter Thing Photo credit: ITV
The idea of the program is that they put excess food donated by supermarkets or vendors in three large bags of fresh fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products, and dried goods – enough to feed a family of four for a week.
It’s a grocery package worth at least £ 35 but families only pay £ 7.50. It’s a program that bridges the gap between a grocery bank and a supermarket.
Week after week, demand is still growing 10% and people are running out of reserves. It is an important service that we offer. We help them to get out of this cycle of food banks and to stand on their own two feet again.
Mark Game, The Bread and Butter Thing The group has partnered with the charity The Bread and Butter Thing Photo credit: ITV
The Bread and Butter Thing already offers its affordable grocery service at two local hubs in the area at Ordsall Community Café and The Olive Branch.
With support from the Salford Families in Need Meal Project, these hubs will be relocated to the site in April, expanding capacity and ensuring that more local people can access the service.
A third hub, funded by the Salford Families in Need Meal Project, opens in May at Barton Moss Primary School on the Brookhouse Estate.
But to do that, they have to raise £ 30,000.
Local MPs Barbara Keeley and Rebecca Long-Bailey supported the project.
Really people fight. I’ve never seen a time when people write to me and say they can’t make it and the tragic thing is they say they can go without food so the kids can have food. That’s not right, and if we can help them eat, that’s a really good thing.
Barbara Keeley MP, Worsley and Eccles South
MEP Rebecca Long-Bailey added, “I think it’s absolutely incredible what they’re doing. Unfortunately, I think there is a real need for it.
“We are seeing the demand for people in need of food assistance increasing dramatically in Salford as the debt of the people in their households increased during the pandemic.
“And while food banks are available as a stopgap measure, they typically don’t offer fresh food or a long-term solution, while initiatives like these provide fresh food to families and are fantastic.”
Barbara Keeley MP and Rebecca Long-Bailey MP visit The Bread and Butter Thing to see what the project does Photo credit: ITV
Dr. Antony Edkins said: “Salford’s food poverty is on the rise. Every day, more teenagers come to school hungry.
“Parents have to make difficult decisions about which staples to buy. Some parents skip a decent meal to feed their children.
“The Salford Families in Need Meal Project is committed to helping tackle pandemic food poverty.
“We were and are overwhelmed by the support we received for our project.”
Bags of food packages to be loaded into delivery trucks to be distributed to families in need Photo credit: ITV
Over Easter, the project provided 150 families with free grocery packages.
With this permanent hub in Salford, they hope to be able to support families in trouble in the coming months and years.
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Individuals interested in using TBBT’s affordable food service must register as members and should contact TBBT at hello@breadandbutterthing.org or text 07860 063 304.
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There is also a registration form and other information Here
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Members of the public, local community organizations, and businesses can donate through The Salford Families in Need Meals Project’s donation page, JustGiving Here.
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